UNION COUNTY, N.C. — The owner of a Monroe wedding venue has been arrested for allegedly defrauding couples and investors out of tens of thousands of dollars.
Jason Lottman, the owner of Champagne Manor, was taken into custody by the Union County Sheriff’s Office this week on several felony fraud-related charges. Lottman is accused of taking money from couples for weddings he could not deliver and running an investment scheme called the ‘Partner Program.’
“There are some things that shouldn’t be messed with … and a wedding day is one of those things,” said Amber Wells, one of the victims who lost money after booking her wedding at Champagne Manor.
“Instead of meeting a potential buyer, he met our detectives, where he was taken into custody,” said James Maye of the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
Lottman allegedly attempted to sell items such as 600 chairs and a $50,000 gazebo on Facebook Marketplace, which led to a sting operation by detectives.
The arrest warrant claims Lottman took $11,000 from a victim for a wedding scheduled in 2025, despite knowing the property was foreclosed.
Lottman was also evicted from his Southpark apartment last month for not paying rent, which prompted detectives to act quickly as he continued accepting deposits.
Amber Wells and her fiancé Jeff Bayles remain hopeful for a June wedding, despite the financial setback. “We can sue the pants off him, but he’s not wearing any pants,” Wells remarked, highlighting their frustration with Lottman’s actions.
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