Former Taylor Farms exec accused of lavish – Business News
A former Tennessee boss for Taylor Farms — just lately within the headlines for hyperlinks to the disgusting outbreak of diarrhea-causing cyclosporiasis — allegedly stole more than $32 million from the fresh-food giant in a sprawling scheme that bankrolled a $5.5 million Hawaii mansion, a 400-acre California ranch and lavish spending on “gambling and women,” in line with an explosive federal lawsuit.
Brian Thure, who ran Taylor Farms Tennessee for roughly 14 years, allegedly handled the company like a personal piggy bank — placing relations, his chef, chauffeur, personal coach and even an aquarium attendant on the payroll whereas funneling thousands and thousands via bogus bills and an alleged sham contractor, Taylor Farms claims.
The blockbuster allegations come because the company is on the middle of a huge multistate cyclospora outbreak linked by federal health officers to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and processed or provided by Taylor Farms de Mexico.
Former Taylor Farms Tennessee president Brian Thure is accused in a federal lawsuit of collaborating in a years-long scheme that allegedly price the company more than $32 million. Instagram/smyrnarotary
The outbreak has to date sickened hundreds of people in 15 states, hospitalized a minimum of 278, and was related to two deaths in Michigan, in line with the CDC and FDA.
Federal investigators have attributed the outbreak to Taylor Farms lettuce via epidemiological proof and supply-chain traceback, though no recalled Taylor product has been confirmed constructive for the parasite.
Thure’s alleged company looting was uncovered after an IRS audit of Taylor Fresh Foods prompted scrutiny of 1099 varieties and questionable reimbursement practices on the Tennessee subsidiary, in line with the June 5 criticism filed in Nashville federal court docket.
A subsequent investigation allegedly uncovered “dozens of fraudulent invoices, falsified expense reports, and other documentary evidence” and concluded that Thure, his spouse, Julie, contractor James McPherson and others had conspired to steal more than $32 million over a number of years.
Taylor claims the company spent more than $3 million using people who completely carried out personal companies for Brian and Julie Thure.
Their personal chef allegedly price Taylor about $493,484, whereas their chauffeur price round $563,341.
Taylor Farms is individually on the middle of a multistate Cyclospora outbreak that federal health officers have linked to iceberg lettuce from its Mexican operation. Getty Images
A personal coach and pool upkeep employee allegedly price one other $381,331, whereas an aquarium upkeep attendant racked up roughly $452,273 on the Taylor payroll, in line with the criticism.
A pal of Julie Thure who labored for her non-public Bear Clover Consulting business allegedly obtained about $996,070 from Taylor Farms Tennessee regardless of working for Julie slightly than the company.
Taylor Farms claims it even has Thure on tape admitting he stole from the company.
During a recorded March 16 call with company representatives, Thure allegedly admitted stealing Taylor funds and mentioned his penchant for extravagant personal spending on “gambling and women,” in line with the criticism. He didn’t elaborate, in line with the go well with.
On April 8, Thure allegedly left Taylor Fresh Foods CEO Bruce Taylor a voicemail during which he “confessed to and apologized for his fraudulent misconduct,” the company claims.
He subsequently admitted his guilt in textual content messages to company representatives, in line with the lawsuit.
Federal health officers say epidemiological proof and supply-chain tracing level to Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce because the source of a multistate Cyclospora outbreak. Getty Images
One of the biggest alleged pipelines for the stolen money was a purported contractor known as MTS Building and Electrical.
Taylor acknowledges MTS carried out roughly $400,000 of reliable construction work for its Tennessee operation in 2022.
But afterward, Thure allegedly started submitting MTS invoices for work that both was by no means carried out or wasn’t carried out by MTS.
The invoices have been usually between $35,000 and $45,000 — intentionally beneath a $50,000 threshold that will set off larger scrutiny from Taylor’s company overseers, in line with the go well with.
Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after federal investigators linked the product to a Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened hundreds. Getty Images
Thure allegedly bypassed regular buying controls by personally handing MTS invoices to accounts-payable workers, telling them how to code the payments and demanding fee when workers requested questions.
Taylor claims frightened accounting employees processed suspicious invoices as a result of they believed Thure would fire them in the event that they refused.
Altogether, Taylor Farms Tennessee allegedly paid MTS more than $12 million.
The Post has sought remark from Brian and Julie Thure, James McPherson and Taylor Farms.
