At a Glance
- $16,650 still owed to Jeff Nimoy, former Bellum showrunner
- $30 million in alleged bank fraud by CEO Mary Carole McDonnell
- FBI most-wanted bulletin seeks 73-year-old fugitive in Dubai
- Why it matters: Employees remain unpaid and a high-profile fraud case crosses borders, affecting the entertainment industry and banking sector
In 2017, a Los Angeles television production company faced a payroll crisis that would expose a high-profile fraud scheme. Employees, led by showrunner Jeff Nimoy, discovered that the company’s CEO, Mary Carole McDonnell, was not the aviation heiress she claimed to be. The FBI’s most-wanted bulletin now seeks information on McDonnell, who is believed to be hiding in Dubai.
Bellum Entertainment’s Payroll Collapse
Bellum Entertainment was once a prolific studio, producing more than 30 shows, including the true-crime series ‘It Takes a Killer’.
Showrunner Jeff Nimoy, who had worked there since 2016, was shocked when payroll stopped in mid-2017.
Employees began receiving bounced checks and unpaid wages, sparking a wave of complaints.
- ‘It Takes a Killer’
- ‘Murderous Affairs’
- ‘Deep Undercover’
- ‘Mysteries of the Unexplained’
Nimoy had believed McDonnell was a wealthy aviation heiress, and he said he was ‘like, there’s no way this thing’s going down, they’ve got too much capital’.
That optimism vanished when the company abruptly shut down after a July holiday break.
Nimoy has yet to receive the $16,650 he was owed.
Brian Testa, a producer and director hired in July 2016, described long days and noted McDonnell was often in and out of the office. He observed her projected wealth-Porsche, a richly furnished office-but she appeared slightly disheveled.
Carlos Franco, hired as a production assistant in 2016, heard complaints about unpaid wages. His first paycheck was late, and he received a wage claim judgment of $12,395 but still owed $1,250.
Aaron Cadieux, a director of photography hired in 2017, was paid $500 upfront and awaited a remaining $2,000. Emails and calls went unanswered, but he eventually received payment, though he remained concerned about other workers.
The company’s abrupt closure left many workers without pay, and the California Labor Commissioner’s Office investigated.
Mary Carole McDonnell’s Alleged Fraud
McDonnell is now a federal fugitive, indicted in 2018 on bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The indictment alleges that from July 2017 to May 2018 she used forged documents and claimed access to an $80 million trust fund.
She is believed to have defrauded California banks out of nearly $30 million in total.
- Forged documents
- False claim of McDonnell Douglas inheritance
- Access to $80 million trust
- Bank fraud
- Aggravated identity theft
An alleged relative confirmed that McDonnell’s only real connection to the McDonnell name was her upbringing in St. Louis, where the McDonnell Douglas aircraft company was founded. The relative said McDonnell’s father owned a grocery store and that McDonnell fabricated stories about her family’s wealth. McDonnell’s fabricated narrative was used to convince banks to lend her money.
The 2018 federal indictment also accuses her of obtaining $14.7 million from Bank of California by falsely claiming she was the heir to the founder of McDonnell Douglas Corp and a beneficiary of a family trust. She needed a loan to tide her over, the complaint alleges, and the bank sued for misrepresentation, fraud, conspiracy, and breach.
Federal investigators allege that McDonnell used similar tactics to defraud more than $15 million from other financial institutions.
An arrest warrant was issued on December 12, 2018 for aggravated identity theft and bank fraud. By that time, authorities believed she had fled to Dubai.
Legal Actions and Wage Claims
The California Labor Commissioner’s Office investigated Bellum after about 50 employees filed unpaid wage claims. Some claims settled, others remain pending.
Court cases include Franco’s judgment of $12,395 and Nimoy’s unpaid $16,650. Other employees also filed claims.
Settlements were reached in some cases, but many workers remain unpaid.
| Date | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| July 2017 | Payroll stopped, company announced July break | Company abruptly closed |
| December 2017 | Wage claims filed | Investigation ongoing |
| December 12, 2018 | Arrest warrant issued | McDonnell believed fled to Dubai |
| December 2023 | FBI most-wanted bulletin released | Public assistance requested |
FBI Investigation and Most-Wanted Bulletin
On December 12, 2018, a federal arrest warrant was issued for McDonnell on aggravated identity theft and bank fraud.
By that time, authorities believed she had fled to Dubai.
The FBI released a most-wanted bulletin this month, seeking information on her whereabouts.
- 73-year-old
- Federal indictment 2018
- Fugitive in Dubai
- Public assistance requested
FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller said:
> ‘We are receiving new information that Ms. McDonnell is still engaged in fraudulent activities abroad, which is why we are reaching out to the public for assistance.’
Eimiller added that the case had been cold but that fresh allegations had emerged, prompting the agency to go public.
The bulletin includes a photo and a description of McDonnell.
Key Takeaways
- Employees still unpaid and seeking compensation.
- McDonnell’s fraud spans banks and the entertainment industry.
- The FBI actively seeks her location and requests public help.
The Bellum Entertainment saga underscores how a single executive’s false claims can cripple a company and leave employees unpaid, while the FBI’s pursuit of McDonnell highlights the global reach of financial fraud investigations. Employees still await payment, and the hunt for the alleged fraudster continues.
