Sarma Melngailis was at the midst of the fresh Netflix offense documentary ”Crappy Vegan: Magnificence. Fraud. Fugitives.” Melngailis’s story is certainly one full of twists and you may converts and you will unbelievable says. She was previously at the top of the fresh York eating scene, having celebs such as Alec Baldwin and Woody Harrelson just a few of her regular users. Just after failing to pay the girl team and you will age crashing down, as the she swiftly turned into noted for her character in a fake scandal you to definitely shook New york city together with vegan world.
The previous manager of new York’s esteemed raw veggie cafe Absolute Food and Wines is actually disgraced into the 2015 following closure off the girl restaurant and additional inside 2016 when she try arrested towards the counts off second-education grand larceny, second-training violent taxation scam, first-education strategy to defraud, citation regarding labor rules, and related counts. Into the 2017, Melngailis recognized an excellent plea contract and you may is eventually sentenced to five days for the prison and you may 5 years probation, Forbes reported. New disgraced veggie restaurateur’s lifetime enjoys notably changed due to the fact losses from the woman business and you can next stop, but in which try she now? Some tips about what to know about in which ”Crappy Vegan”is why Melngailis happens to be.
Who is Sarma Melngailis?
Melngailis don’t rating the woman begin in your meal community up to the woman late 20s. She originally had an eye fixed getting company (foreshadowing, far?) and you can graduated in the University out-of Pennsylvania in 1994 which have a beneficial bachelor’s education during the economics. Following the girl graduation, Melngailis proceeded to focus an abundance of efforts one to centered to the organization, together with funding financial and you may money funds, predicated on the girl site.
The girl interest in finance did not history, and you will she went along to the new Culinary Institute from The usa, graduating into the 1999 which have hopes of cracking towards the eating globe. Within the 2004, she unwrapped Pure-food and you can Drink with her up coming-date and you will chef, Matthew Kenney. For another elizabeth one of The fresh new York’s preferred dining, constantly applauded from the esteemed products such Nyc Mag and you will Forbes. By the 2015, not, the tide got totally altered.
How Did Sarma Melngailis Get Caught?
In 2011, Melngailis met Anthony Strangis through Facebook, therefore the a couple . With respect to pure hook up app the New york Blog post, Melngailis leased Strangis while the a manager inside 2013, and this quickly changed that which you. A column make helping Melngailis at the time listed, ”[Melngailis] would carry on far more trips. [She] however became so much more evasive, smaller worried about the latest really-getting of business.”
Their impractical romantic commitment and you may providers union perplexed members of the family, friends, and you may team from Melngailis, however, there clearly was an explanation about it. According to Vanity Fair, Strangis ”was encouraging giving the lady enough currency being separate out of meddling buyers, let someone she wanted, and you can pay-off the woman expense.” Strangis decrease because of to the their many guarantees, also you to definitely the guy designed to create Melngailis’s pit bull terrier immortal. Rather, together with her, it took $dos billion regarding eatery of the not paying pros and you will lying so you can investors. The duo allegedly used the cash on casino vacation and high priced privileges, for example lodging and you can observe.
Once an effective workers’ strike of the Pure food and Drink employees inside 2015, their cash-and also make system arrived at crumble. For the tension having to expend both teams and you may investors, Melngailis and you can Strangis went on the latest work on, trying to stop extradition due to their crimes up to an excellent Domino’s pizza pie buy tipped off of the police.
Where Was Sarma Melngailis Today?
Immediately after serving four weeks during the This new York’s notorious Rikers Area prison, she submitted getting divorce from Strangis for the 2018. Centered on their web site, she already resides in Harlem with her save your self dog, Leon. Melngailis and additionally is apparently implementing an effective podcast, each a review of the lady Instagram web page, and can are available in ”Crappy Vegetarian.” Towards to the new restaurant industry, she remains hopeful however, practical, advising the York Article inside 2019, ”In the event that there’s certain enchanting chance to discover an equivalent cafe in the same put, I would exercise in a pulse. I believe Nyc create simply take me back.”
