Local wedding venue owner arrested on fraud charges, now under $1M bond

UNION COUNTY, N.C. – A local wedding venue owner has been arrested and charged after a fraud investigation. Union County Sheriff’s deputies began investigating Jason Lottmann and multiple reports of fraud involving his business, Champagne Manor, in December 2024.

Investigators say they uncovered a scheme where 41-year-old Lottmann defrauded engaged couples and investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Deputies say couples paid Lottmann as much as $50,000 for full-service wedding packages. The couples believed their payments covered the venue, catering and other wedding essentials. As their wedding dates approached, couples say they received calls from vendors who were demanding payment for services the couples assumed had been covered.

The Sheriff’s Office says when the couples contacted Lottmann, they discovered he had taken their money but failed to book or pay for any services.

At the same time, investigators say Lottmann was also running an investment scheme called “Partner Program.” Lottmann is accused of soliciting large sums of money under the pretense of funding upgrades at Champagne Manor in Monroe. Lottmann allegedly promised significant returns, but failed to tell investors that the property was already in foreclosure, making repayment impossible.

Detectives say they discovered that Lottmann was still taking deposits from couples and selling items purchased with stolen funds on Facebook Marketplace. On Tuesday, January 28th, detectives arranged to meet Lottmann at a local storage facility under the guise of purchasing fraudulently obtained items.

When Lottmann arrived, he was arrested and now faces numerous felony charges. He is currently being held in the Union County Detention Center under a $1 million secured bond.

Additional criminal charges are likely. If you have been victimized by Lottmann or have information related to the case, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 704-283-3789.