A wedding venue owner in North Carolina has been arrested after reports emerged that he defrauded numerous engaged couples out of large sums of money. Jason Lottmann, the 41-year-old owner of Champagne Manor in Monroe, was taken into custody by the Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) on several felony charges linked to this fraud scheme.
According to detectives, the investigation began after multiple engaged couples came forward with complaints. They told authorities they had paid anywhere from $40,000 to $50,000 for full-service wedding packages that included catering and other essential services. However, just days before their planned weddings, these couples received calls from vendors demanding payment for services that they believed were already covered.
When the couples reached out to Lottmann, they discovered that he had taken their money but had not arranged or paid for any of the promised services. This left them in a tough situation as they scrambled to salvage their wedding plans.
In addition to deceiving couples, Lottmann allegedly misled investors through a program known as the “Partner Program.” He reportedly approached investors for large amounts of money under the false claim that it was necessary to upgrade the venue, while failing to disclose that the property was already in foreclosure.
Detectives further uncovered that Lottmann was accepting deposits and selling items purchased with stolen funds on Facebook Marketplace. To catch him, they set up a sting operation, arranging to meet him at a local storage facility under the pretext of buying these fraudulent items. They successfully apprehended him at that location.
Lottmann is currently being held at the Union County Detention Center on a secured bond of $1 million. Authorities indicated that further criminal charges may soon be filed against him. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 27.
Among those affected, a man named Mark Yarotskiy spoke out before Lottmann’s arrest, revealing that he lost thousands after booking Champagne Manor for his wedding. He expressed his frustration, stating, “He was lying to our face. No one is able to reach him anymore. We are out of money and time.”
The police are urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Lottmann’s schemes to contact the UCSO Main Office for further assistance.
