Home / Crime and Justice / Wedding Planner Scams Brides Out of $1 Million
Wedding Planner Scams Brides Out of $1 Million
11 Jul
Summary
- Owner confessed to defrauding over $1 million from couples and investors.
- Couples paid $40,000 to $50,000 for packages, but vendors went unpaid.
- He continued taking payments while the business faced foreclosure.
Jason Lottman, 43, of Charlotte, North Carolina, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud for defrauding clients and investors out of more than $1 million. Lottman, the former owner of Champagne Manor, a wedding venue in Monroe, North Carolina, was arrested in January 2025.
Prosecutors revealed that between October 2023 and January 2025, Lottman sold all-inclusive wedding packages. Couples reportedly paid between $40,000 and $50,000 for services like catering and photography. Lottman promised to pay vendors directly but failed to do so, leaving customers to cover outstanding bills.
Additionally, Lottman solicited investments by promising ownership stakes and guaranteed returns, even falsely claiming the venue was acquiring a glass ballroom as collateral. The venue defaulted on its mortgage in mid-2024, initiating foreclosure proceedings. Lottman continued to accept payments despite knowing the severe financial distress of his business.
He now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
