The Rise and Fall of Sarma Melngailis' Vegan Empire

Sarma Melngailis, the once-celebrated Manhattan restaurateur known for her vegan lifestyle and her popular restaurant Pure Food and Wine, found herself embroiled in scandal and legal troubles alongside her husband, Anthony Strangis. The couple’s dramatic fall from grace culminated in their arrest in May 2016 after weeks on the run. Here’s what happened.

The Rise and Fall of a Vegan Icon

Sarma Melngailis gained prominence as the face of the raw-vegan movement with the success of her restaurant, Pure Food and Wine, which she co-founded with her then-boyfriend, chef Matthew Kenney. Opened in 2004, the restaurant quickly became a hotspot for health-conscious celebrities and food enthusiasts. Melngailis’ book, “Raw Food, Real World,” further cemented her status as a vegan icon, promising a lifestyle of health and vitality.

Photo by Edsel Little

Melngailis’ life took a dramatic turn when she met Anthony Strangis, a gambler with a checkered past, on Twitter in 2011. Strangis, using various online aliases, manipulated his way into Melngailis’ life, promising her vast wealth and the fantastical idea that her beloved dog, Leon, could be made immortal. This marked the beginning of a tumultuous relationship that would lead to financial ruin and legal troubles.

The Crimes and Arrest

Under Strangis’ influence, Melngailis drained her restaurant’s funds, diverting over $1.6 million to her personal accounts. Strangis squandered most of this money at casinos. The couple’s extravagant spending and unpaid debts led to the restaurant’s downfall. Employees went unpaid, and investors were defrauded out of substantial amounts of money. In May 2015, Melngailis and Strangis fled New York, evading authorities for nearly a year.

Anthony Strangis mug shot. Photo courtesy of Sevier County Sherriff’s Department

The couple was finally apprehended in May 2016 at a Tennessee hotel after Strangis ordered a non-vegan pizza for delivery using his real name. This led police to their location, where Melngailis was found subsisting on vegan meals from a nearby fast-food restaurant. Their arrest marked the end of their fugitive life and the beginning of a high-profile legal saga.

Legal Battles

Melngailis and Strangis faced multiple charges, including grand larceny and fraud. Melngailis’ defense pointed to Strangis’ coercive control, alleging he used psychological manipulation to dominate her actions. Strangis, in turn, denied all allegations of coercive behavior and fraud.

Where Are They Now?

Sarma Melngailis accepted a plea deal, avoiding a three-year prison sentence, and received a split six-month sentence, serving four months in jail and five years’ probation for grand larceny, tax fraud, and defrauding. Anthony Strangis pleaded guilty to grand larceny, serving one year in jail and five years’ probation, and was ordered to pay $840,000 in restitution.

Post-incarceration, Melngailis filed for divorce in 2018 and started a personal website, Sarma Raw, where she shares her story. She expressed a desire to reopen her vegan restaurant if given the chance and remains active on social media. Strangis was released after a year and three days in Rikers Island and continues to serve probation while paying back the defrauded investors.

Sarma Melngailis’ story is a cautionary tale of how a celebrated figure fell victim to manipulation and financial ruin. Her journey from a successful restaurateur to a criminal defendant underscores the complexities of abusive relationships and the far-reaching impacts of financial misconduct. As she seeks to rebuild her life, her case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and the devastating effects of coercive control.

References: How Sarma Melngailis, Queen of Vegan Cuisine, Became a Runaway Fugitive | The True Story Behind Netflix’s New Docuseries ‘Bad Vegan’