The owner of a wedding venue in North Carolina, Jason Lottmann (41), has been arrested for allegedly scamming engaged couples and investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Lottmann owned Champagne Manor in Monroe, N.C... Continue reading here ▶
Police started investigating after several couples reported that they had paid Lottmann between $40,000 and $50,000 for full-service wedding packages.
However, just days before their weddings, the couples discovered that Lottmann had not actually booked or paid for any of the services, like catering.
Vendors were calling the couples demanding payment, leaving them scrambling to save their wedding plans and in a financial bind. Lottmann had allegedly taken their money and done nothing.
In addition to the wedding scam, Lottmann is also accused of defrauding investors through a “Partner Program.” He reportedly asked investors for large sums of money, promising big returns and claiming the money would be used for venue upgrades. However, the property was already in foreclosure, making it impossible for him to repay the investors.
Detectives learned that Lottmann was selling items bought with the stolen money on Facebook Marketplace. They set up a sting operation, pretending to be interested in buying some of these items. They met him at a storage facility and arrested him there.
Lottmann is being held on a $1 million bond and is facing numerous felony charges. Police say more charges are likely. His next court date is February 27.
Before his arrest, one man told a local news station that he had lost thousands of dollars after booking Champagne Manor for his wedding. He said Lottmann had lied to him and that no one could reach him anymore.
Police are asking anyone else who believes they were scammed by Lottmann to contact them.