A former manager at Nellie’s Southern Kitchen, a Belmont restaurant with ties to the music group Jonas Brothers, has been accused of embezzling over $220,000. Joy Nichols Auten, 53, was charged with five felony counts of embezzlement by an employee after Belmont Police uncovered financial irregularities spanning several years.
According to WBTV, Auten allegedly made unauthorized withdrawals of $251,986 from the restaurant's account between June 2016 and March 2020, far exceeding the $28,798.47 needed for business expenses, the excess remains largely unaccounted for. Further inquiry by law enforcement indicated that Auten might have deposited over $93,000 of the unaccounted funds into her personal bank account.
Police Chief Boyce Falls referred to the act as "deliberate and calculated," which had a notable impact on the Belmont community's beloved business. As reported by WCNC, Falls assured that the Belmont Police Department is dedicated to thoroughly investigating such financial crimes to deliver justice.
Auten was booked into the Gaston County Jail and released after posting a $25,000 bond, says the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators are calling on anyone with information to step forward as the investigation continues. The Belmont Police Department, in a statement to QC News, has urged the public to provide any relevant information they might have.
Nellie's Southern Kitchen, named in honor of Kevin Jonas Sr.’s grandmother, was inaugurated in 2016. The establishment not only serves Southern-inspired cuisine but also represents a piece of Jonas family history in Belmont. The restaurant has another location in Las Vegas, both of which honor the legacy of the family matriarch, whose family-famed recipes draw both locals and tourists.
