Sarma Melngailis is at the midst of the newest Netflix crime documentary “Bad Veggie: Fame. Scam. Fugitives.” Melngailis’s story is the one full of twists and you may turns and unbelievable says. She once was near the top of the new York dinner scene, which have celebrities instance Alec Baldwin and you will Woody Harrelson just a few of the girl frequent users. Just after failing to pay the lady employees and elizabeth crashing off, while the she fast turned into known for the woman part inside the a deceptive scandal one to shook New york together with veggie globe.
The former manager of new York’s important brutal veggie cafe Absolute As well as Wine are disgraced within the 2015 following closing off their cafe and further inside 2016 when she are detained on matters out-of next-degree huge larceny, second-knowledge criminal tax scam, first-studies plan so you can defraud, admission away from labor rules, and you will relevant matters. In 2017, Melngailis approved a good plea contract and you can was sooner sentenced to four days for the prison and you may five years probation, Forbes claimed. The fresh new disgraced Renton WA escort review vegan restaurateur’s lifetime possess notably changed since the losses of their providers and next stop, but in which was she today? Here is what to know about where “Bad Vegetarian”is why Melngailis became.
Who is Sarma Melngailis?
Melngailis didn’t rating their begin in your food business until the girl later twenties. She originally got an eye to own business (foreshadowing, far?) and you may finished on the College off Pennsylvania during the 1994 that have an effective bachelor’s degree inside the business economics. Following the the lady graduation, Melngailis proceeded to be hired an abundance of jobs you to definitely created toward providers, also funding financial and resource finance, based on the woman site.
The girl interest in funds don’t past, and you will she decided to go to this new Cooking Institute regarding The united states, graduating for the 1999 having expectations of cracking towards the dinner world. Into the 2004, she unwrapped Pure-food and Drink along with her following-sweetheart and you may chef, Matthew Kenney. For another age certainly one of The new York’s most widely used dinner, consistently recognized because of the important courses like Ny Magazine and you may Forbes. Because of the 2015, although not, the fresh new tide had completely altered.
How Did Sarma Melngailis Rating Caught?
In 2011, Melngailis came across Anthony Strangis courtesy Facebook, additionally the one or two . According to the Nyc Article, Melngailis hired Strangis since an employer inside 2013, which instantly changed everything you. A line create working for Melngailis at that time indexed, “[Melngailis] do continue a lot more trips. [She] obviously turned even more evasive, quicker concerned about this new better-becoming of your organization.”
Its unrealistic romantic commitment and providers commitment perplexed family relations, family members, and group off Melngailis, however, there can be a conclusion behind it. Considering Mirror Reasonable, Strangis “are encouraging to provide their enough money to be independent off meddling people, let some body she wished, and you may pay back this lady expenses.” Strangis decrease through to your their of several pledges, plus you to the guy designed to build Melngailis’s pit bull terrier immortal. Rather, together with her, they took $2 million from the cafe by failing to pay workers and you may lying to traders. The duo allegedly used the money on casino trips and pricey privileges, for example rooms and you will watches.
Once a good workers’ strike of the Pure food and you may Wine staff within the 2015, their money-and work out strategy come to crumble. On the pressure having to blow both group and you can buyers, Melngailis and Strangis proceeded this new focus on, wanting to prevent extradition due to their criminal activities until an excellent Domino’s pizza pie order tipped off the police.
Where Is Sarma Melngailis Now?
Immediately after providing five days within The new York’s infamous Rikers Island jail, she registered to have divorce or separation out of Strangis for the 2018. Centered on their website, she currently lives in Harlem together rescue canine, Leon. Melngailis including seems to be implementing a great podcast, each a report about the girl Instagram webpage, and will come in “Bad Vegan.” Into the to the new cafe world, she remains hopeful however, reasonable, informing new York Post when you look at the 2019, “In the event that there’s specific phenomenal opportunity to unlock an identical cafe in identical lay, I would personally take action for the a heartbeat. I do believe Nyc perform bring myself back.”
