STATESVILLE, N.C. — A former CEO has been charged with embezzling more than $15 million from her employer and using stolen money to pay for a lavish lifestyle, including travel, jewelry and family weddings.
A court filing on Friday, Dec. 17, also accuses Donna Osowitt Steele, of Taylorsville, North Carolina, of using stolen money to fund personal businesses run by her family.
According to court documents, it is alleged that Steele charged more than $1 million for travel expenses on airlines and hostels for herself, along with family and friends.
Tigra, an international company with a business based in Hickory, confirmed Steele was employed at the business.
"“We are gratified that justice is being done," Bernd Motzer, president and CEO with Tigra, said in an email to WCNC Charlotte.
Steele is charged with one count of wire fraud. Online court records don’t list an attorney for her who could comment.
The company that employed Steele as its CEO wasn't named in Friday’s court filing. But prosecutors said it’s a subsidiary of a foreign corporation that makes products for the woodworking industry.
MORE NEWS: Kitchen fire dangers tend to increase during holidays. Irmo Fire has some tips to avoid them
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || TuneIn || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.