Sarma Melngailis is at the midst of new Netflix crime documentary “Bad Veggie: Glory. Con. Fugitives.” Melngailis’s tale is the one filled up with twists and you will turns and you can amazing claims. She was previously at the top of the fresh new York dinner world, with a-listers such as for example Alec Baldwin and you can Woody Harrelson just some of the woman constant consumers. After not paying this lady teams and e crashing off, because the she fast became noted for her role for the a deceptive scandal that shook Nyc and also the veggie industry.

The former owner of the latest York’s important raw vegetarian restaurant Sheer As well as Wines try disgraced into the 2015 following closure out-of this lady restaurant and additional inside 2016 whenever she are detained towards counts regarding 2nd-degree grand larceny, second-knowledge criminal tax ripoff, first-education scheme to defraud, pass regarding labor legislation, and relevant counts. Inside the 2017, Melngailis acknowledged a plea price and you may are sooner sentenced to help you four weeks into the prison and five years probation, Forbes stated. The newest disgraced vegan restaurateur’s lives features somewhat changed just like the loss away from the woman business and you can further arrest, however, where are she today? This is what to learn about in which “Bad Vegetarian”is why Melngailis has become.

Who’s Sarma Melngailis?

Melngailis don’t rating this lady begin in your meal globe up until the girl late twenties. She originally got a close look getting organization (foreshadowing, much?) and you can graduated from the College or university regarding Pennsylvania during the 1994 with a beneficial bachelor’s education for the economics. Pursuing the the lady graduation, Melngailis proceeded be effective lots of operate one centered into the company, also funding banking and you can money money, predicated on her site.

Her interest in finance don’t last, and she visited this new Cooking Institute of America, graduating from inside the 1999 which have expectations of breaking to your dinner industry. Inside the 2004, she open Pure food and you can Drink together upcoming-boyfriend and you can chef, Matthew Kenney. For another e certainly The latest York’s hottest dining, continuously acknowledged from the esteemed guides such as Nyc Mag and Forbes. Of the 2015, however, the fresh wave had entirely altered.

How Performed Sarma Melngailis Get Trapped?

Last year, Melngailis found Anthony Strangis due to Facebook, and the a couple . According to the New york Article, Melngailis leased Strangis as an employer when you look at the 2013, which instantaneously changed everything. A column cook working for Melngailis at that time noted, “[Melngailis] perform carry on a lot more vacation. [She] however turned into much more evasive, shorter concerned with the really-being of the organization.”

Its unrealistic close connection and you will company partnership confused loved ones, loved ones, and you will personnel regarding Melngailis, however, discover a conclusion trailing it. Based on Mirror Fair, Strangis “was guaranteeing to offer this lady enough currency being separate away from meddling investors, help some body she need, and you may pay back her expense.” Strangis dropped through on their many promises, in addition to one to he made to generate Melngailis’s pit bull immortal. Alternatively, together with her, it took $dos billion regarding the bistro from the not paying professionals and you can lying so you’re able to traders. The brand new duo presumably utilized the cash on casino vacation and you may pricey luxuries, such as for instance rooms and watches.

After an excellent workers’ struck by Pure-food and you may Wine teams when you look at the 2015, their money-and come up with scheme started to crumble. For the stress of obtaining to pay both group and you can dealers, Melngailis and you can Strangis proceeded the fresh new manage, attempting to avoid extradition due to their criminal activities until a great Domino’s pizza buy tipped off the police.

In which Try Sarma Melngailis Now?

Immediately after offering four months in the The latest York’s notorious Rikers Isle jail, she submitted getting splitting up regarding Strangis when you look at the 2018. Considering this lady website, she currently resides in Harlem together with her cut dog, Leon. Melngailis as Plano escort well as seems to be doing a good podcast, each a post on the girl Instagram webpage, and can can be found in “Crappy Vegetarian.” With the returning to the brand new restaurant business, she stays optimistic however, practical, telling brand new York Blog post in the 2019, “If the discover some enchanting possible opportunity to open an equivalent cafe in identical place, I might do so inside the a heart circulation. I believe Nyc do take me personally back.”