Sarma Melngailis is at the midst of the new Netflix crime documentary “Crappy Vegetarian: Fame. Con. Fugitives.” Melngailis’s story is one filled with twists and turns and you can unbelievable says. She once was on top of new York dining world, which have a-listers including Alec Baldwin and you can Woody Harrelson just some of the woman frequent users. Once failing to pay their teams and you may elizabeth crashing off, as the she swiftly turned noted for the lady character inside the a deceptive scandal one shook New york therefore the vegan industry.
The former proprietor of new York’s important intense vegetarian cafe Sheer As well as Wines try disgraced for the 2015 after the closing of the woman bistro and extra for the 2016 whenever she is arrested with the matters from second-training grand larceny, second-training unlawful taxation swindle, first-studies plan so you’re able to defraud, ticket away from work laws, and you may relevant counts. Inside the 2017, Melngailis approved an effective plea contract and you may are fundamentally sentenced so you can four weeks within the prison and you may five years probation, Forbes reported. The latest disgraced veggie restaurateur’s lifestyle keeps notably changed because https://datingmentor.org/tr/guyspy-inceleme/ the losses off the woman team and you may subsequent arrest, however, where was she now? Here is what to learn about in which “Bad Vegetarian”‘s the reason Melngailis has started to become.
Who’s Sarma Melngailis?
Melngailis did not get the girl come from meals business up to their later 20s. She originally got an eye having company (foreshadowing, far?) and you can graduated on the College away from Pennsylvania in the 1994 which have an effective bachelor’s education from inside the business economics. Following the lady graduation, Melngailis proceeded to be effective a lot of operate you to definitely dependent into the team, including capital financial and you can funding fund, considering her web site.
Her demand for money did not last, and she visited the latest Cooking Institute from The united states, graduating in 1999 with hopes of cracking towards the eating business. Into the 2004, she opened Pure food and Drink along with her upcoming-sweetheart and you may chef, Matthew Kenney. For the next e certainly Brand new York’s hottest food, consistently acknowledged of the esteemed guides for example Nyc Journal and you will Forbes. Of the 2015, but not, the new tide got totally changed.
Exactly how Did Sarma Melngailis Get Trapped?
In 2011, Melngailis met Anthony Strangis through Twitter, therefore the several . With respect to the New york Blog post, Melngailis hired Strangis since an employer from inside the 2013, hence instantly altered what you. A line make doing work for Melngailis at the time indexed, “[Melngailis] manage carry on a whole lot more trips. [She] obviously became a whole lot more evasive, reduced worried about the brand new really-getting of your own providers.”
The unlikely personal commitment and company partnership puzzled family unit members, family, and you can staff out of Melngailis, however, there clearly was a description trailing they. Considering Mirror Fair, Strangis “is actually encouraging to offer their enough currency to be independent from meddling dealers, help people she wished, and you can pay off the lady costs.” Strangis fell as a consequence of to the his of many claims, along with one the guy designed to make Melngailis’s pit bull terrier immortal. As an alternative, together, it stole $2 billion throughout the restaurant from the failing to pay workers and you will lying to traders. Brand new duo presumably made use of the cash on local casino trips and you may pricey luxuries, particularly rooms and you will watches.
Immediately after good workers’ struck of the Pure-food and you will Drink team in the 2015, their money-and also make plan reach crumble. Towards the pressure of obtaining to pay both professionals and you may buyers, Melngailis and you will Strangis proceeded the brand new work on, attempting to prevent extradition because of their crimes up until good Domino’s pizza pie acquisition tipped from the police.
In which Was Sarma Melngailis Now?
Just after serving four weeks on The latest York’s infamous Rikers Isle prison, she recorded having separation regarding Strangis from inside the 2018. According to the woman webpages, she currently stays in Harlem along with her cut dog, Leon. Melngailis together with seems to be concentrating on a good podcast, for every single an overview of their Instagram web page, and will appear in “Bad Veggie.” To your back once again to new restaurant community, she stays optimistic however, sensible, advising the fresh new York Article inside the 2019, “If discover specific phenomenal opportunity to unlock an identical eatery in the same place, I might take action from inside the a heart circulation. I believe Ny do simply take myself straight back.”