UNION COUNTY, N.C. (WMBF/Gray News) – A wedding venue owner is accused of defrauding couples out of thousands of dollars and failing to provide them with a venue.
Travis Marshall and Rachel Staley were set to get married at the Champagne Manor in Monroe, North Carolina.
The couple spent $20,000 on the venue but their dreams of the perfect wedding were shattered when they received notice that the manor was shutting down.
Champagne Manor owner Jason Lottmann was arrested by the Union County Sheriff’s Office after an investigation into Lottman after receiving multiple reports of fraud.
Some couples paid Lottmann upwards of $50,000 and found out he pocketed the money when vendors called them for payment, according to authorities.
Lottmann was also running an investment scheme called the “Partner Program,” soliciting large sums under the pretense of funding venue upgrades, according to WBTV.
He promised significant returns but failed to disclose that the property was already in foreclosure, making repayment impossible, the sheriff’s office said.
Detectives learned that Lottmann was still taking deposits from new victims and selling items purchased with stolen funds on Facebook Marketplace.
Officials said that they contacted Lottman to meet them at a local storage facility on Tuesday under the guise that they wanted to purchase fraudulently obtained items.
The sheriff’s office then arrested Lottman and he now faces numerous felony charges.
Lottman is being held at the Union County Detention Center under a $1 million secured bond.
This case remains active, and additional criminal charges are likely. Anyone who may have been victimized by Lottmann or who has information related to these cases is urged to contact the UCSO Main Office at (704) 283-3789.
Copyright 2025 WMBF via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.