North Carolina Ex-CEO charged with embezzling $15M to fund lavish lifestyle
Updated: 6:33 PM EST Dec 18, 2021
FORECAST PLUS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE TRIAD. LOUIE: BECAUSE OF TODAY’S RAIN, THE CITY OF BURLINGTONAS H CANCELED THE HOLIDAY MAGIC FESTIVAL. THE EVENT WAS ALREADY RESCHEDULED, FROM LAST SATURDAY. THE FAMILY OF A WINSTON-SALEM MAN IS ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP. THEY’RE TRYING TO FIND THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FORIS H DEATH. AS JACKIE PASCALE REPORTS, IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON THE DEATH OF LACARNLY DIXON. THE FAMILY IS OFFERING A LARGE REWA.RD >> SO FAR THE FAMILY SAYS DETECTESIV HAVE TOLD THEM THEY’RE TRYING TO JUST CONNECT THE DOTS IN THIS CASE. THEY’RE HOPING THIS REWARD MONEY WILL HELP THEM GET THERE. >> PERSONALLY, I WANTOT KWNO WHO MURDERED MY MOTHER’S SON IN COLD BLOOD AND WHY. >> THE FAMILY OF LACARNLY DINXO SENIOR, WANTS JUSTICE. STILL NO SUSPECTS, MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER THE 55-YEAR-OLDAS W SHOT AND KILLED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE MILL 800 APARTMENTS IN WINSTON-SALEM. >> THE AUDACITY TO MURDER SOMEONE IN THE PLACE THEY FEEL THE MOST SAFE IN FRONT OF THEIR OWN CHILD. IT IS RIDICULOUS. JACKIE: HE WORKED AS A MAINTENAENC WORKER AT THE APARTMENT. EMERSON’S THAT NIGHT, GOING BACK THERE HAS BEEN EMOTIONAL. >> IT IS HARD. I THINK ABOUT WTHA HAPPENED EVERY DAY. IT IS SAD. JACKIE: ALSO EVERYAY D HE SAYS HE MISSES DIXON’S POSITIVITY. >> EVERY TEXT MESSAGE WOULD END WITH I LOVE YOU. EVERY PHONE CALL ENDED WITH I LOVE YOU. HE NEVER M AET STRANGER AND THIS IS WHY HIS MURDER IS SO HURTFUL. JACK:IE THE FAMILY IS OFFERING $10,000 TO ANYONE WHO COULD PROVIDE INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF THE KILLER. POLICE, AL HSOOPEFUL IT’LL BRING IN NEW LEADS. >> WE’D LIKE ANY HELP AND ALL HELP TO MAKE SURE THIS MURDERER IS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. JACKIE: IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION, PLSEEA CONTACT WINSTON-SALEM POLICE. LOUIE: THANK YOU. NEW TONIGHT, THE ROCKINGHAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS A MAN IS IN CUSTODY AFTEAR SHOOTING LEFT ONE MAN HURT INVESTIGATORS SAY, THEY WERE TOLD ABOUT A MAN AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL, WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND. ACCORDING TO AUTHORITI,ES 60-YEAR-OLD KENNETH BELL, JR. OF STONEVILLE SHOT THE VICTIM DURING AN ARGUMENT. DEPUESTI IN HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA ARRESTED BELL A SHORT TIME LATER. BELL IS CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER, AND ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON. HE’S BEING HELD IN HENRY COUNTY, WAITING FOR EXTRADITION, TO ROCKINGHAM COUY.NT NEW TONIGHT, WINSTON-SALEM RESIDENTS HANDED OUT FOOD TO THOSE WHO NEED THE EXTRA HELP. THEY’RE MAKINSUG RE MANY DO NOT GO HUNGRY THIS CHRISTMAS. THE EVENT WAS IN HONOR OF A MAN, KILLED IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTGIN LAST YEAR. IN APRIL OF 2020, A SHOOTING ON PIEDMONT CIRCLE LEFT NASHAWN SANDERS DEAD. TODAY ON PATTERSON AVENUE, PEOPLE PASSED OUT FOOD TO THOSE IN NEED. NOT FAR AWAY, THE BLACK TIGER MOTORCYCLE CLUB AND SKILZ, WHEELS AND TIRES, COLLECTED FOOD, FOR SAMARITAN MINISTRIES. >> MY BROTHER WAS A VERY GIVING PERSON. THIS IS THE REASON WE ARE DOING THE FOOD GIVEAWAY. HE WAS ALWAYS CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS AND WILLING TO HELP OTHERS AND GIVE BACK. KEEPING HIS LEGACY ALIVE, KEEPING HIS MEMORY ALIVE. >> WE HAVE A HUGE HOMELESS POPULATION. A LOT OF FOLKS DON’T HAVE FOOD OR PLACES TO GO. WE FELT THIS WAS SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. LOUIE: DEVELOPING NEWS IN EASTERN NORTH CALIRONA, FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE SCENE OF A MASSIVE FIRE AT A QVC DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN ROCKY MOUNT. THE EDGECOMBE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYAN ES MPLOE ISYE MISSING. THAT’S ACCORDING TO OUR NEWS PARTNER, WRAL. OFFICIALS SAY, MOST THE ONE POINT FIVE MILLION SQUARE FOOT FACILITY, IS DESTROY
North Carolina Ex-CEO charged with embezzling $15M to fund lavish lifestyle
Updated: 6:33 PM EST Dec 18, 2021
A former CEO has been charged with embezzling more than $15 million from her employer and using stolen money to pay for a lavish lifestyle, including travel, jewelry and family weddings, according to federal prosecutors.Donna Osowitt Steele, of Taylorsville, North Carolina, also used stolen money to fund personal businesses run by her family, according to a court filing Friday by U.S. Attorney Dena King’s office.Steele is charged with one count of wire fraud. Online court records don’t list an attorney for her or a date for an initial court appearance.The company that employed Steele isn’t named in the court filing. But prosecutors said it’s a subsidiary of a foreign corporation and makes carbide products used in saw blades for the woodworking industry. The company owners live overseas, the filing says.Steele joined the company in 1999 and was serving as its CEO when she was fired in January 2020.Prosecutors said Steele used company credit cards, checks and wire transfers to steal company funds. She allegedly charged approximately $255,000 for stays at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, more than $500,000 for jewelry, over $200,000 for family wedding expenses and more than $100,000 for flowers.Steele also transferred more than $350,000 in embezzled money to a high-end clothing and furniture business that she operated called Opulence by Steele, according to the court filing.
A former CEO has been charged with embezzling more than $15 million from her employer and using stolen money to pay for a lavish lifestyle, including travel, jewelry and family weddings, according to federal prosecutors.
Donna Osowitt Steele, of Taylorsville, North Carolina, also used stolen money to fund personal businesses run by her family, according to a court filing Friday by U.S. Attorney Dena King’s office.
Steele is charged with one count of wire fraud. Online court records don’t list an attorney for her or a date for an initial court appearance.
The company that employed Steele isn’t named in the court filing. But prosecutors said it’s a subsidiary of a foreign corporation and makes carbide products used in saw blades for the woodworking industry. The company owners live overseas, the filing says.
Steele joined the company in 1999 and was serving as its CEO when she was fired in January 2020.
Prosecutors said Steele used company credit cards, checks and wire transfers to steal company funds. She allegedly charged approximately $255,000 for stays at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, more than $500,000 for jewelry, over $200,000 for family wedding expenses and more than $100,000 for flowers.
Steele also transferred more than $350,000 in embezzled money to a high-end clothing and furniture business that she operated called Opulence by Steele, according to the court filing.