Terry Fator's Las Vegas Strip Show Experiences $1 Million Theft by Ex-Employees
As Terry Fator entertained audiences with his puppets, two former employees of the Las Vegas Strip headliner reportedly had their hands in his pocket. Last week, Vincent Souza, a former employee of Puppet Boy Entertainment, the company that employs Fator, was arrested on a warrant. The police allege that Souza and another unnamed employee stole close to $1 million from the ventriloquist.
Souza, who was the treasurer for Fator's company, is facing four charges of theft above $3,500. The court allowed him a walk-through initial appearance and released him without requiring him to post bail.
Souza is accused of embezzling funds through business credit cards and unapproved salary increases. From $150,000 in 2015, his salary rose to $200,000 by 2017. Another former employee, a payroll supervisor whose name is withheld in the documents, also saw her salary go up from $65,000 to $140,000 in the same period. It's unknown if she'll be charged.
In 2021, Fator informed the police about the theft, which occurred two months after he sued his accounting firm. That conflict was later settled through arbitration, according to KLAS-TV.
Previous Case Dismissed
Fator also reported a similar issue to the FBI - a fact not previously made public. For inexplicable reasons, federal agents and the Nevada Attorney General's office opted not to pursue that case.
According to the police, Souza used his company's credit card to pay a security deposit on a house in Buena Vista, Florida, as well as a deposit on a new Tesla and "tens of thousands" for season tickets to the Vegas Golden Knights. This activity took place in 2022.
In 2020, Souza fired all of Fator's office staff, including himself, due to concerns about the company's financial solvency. That year, Souza also used the company credit card for an unauthorized vacation to Hawaii, along with trips to Europe and Disneyland.
Legal Condemnation
"Mr. Souza is considered innocent, and I believe he'll stay that way," said Jack Buchanan, Souza's lawyer, in a statement to KLAS. "We've just started our investigation into allegations that extend over several years. Once we've completed all legal processes and a financial review, we're confident Mr. Souza will be cleared of these charges."
Souza's hearing is set for January 16th.
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Source: www.casino.org
