A Brooklyn wedding venue owner who scammed engaged couples out of their reception deposits has been banned from the restaurant and catering industry for life.
ReBar owner Jason Stevens, 41, closed the venue in May after accepting over a million dollars in deposits for future wedding receptions.
He also pleaded guilty to $1.2 million in tax fraud last month.
Stevens will have liens filed against him for almost $1.1 million in restitution to 73 couples plus $64,000 in civil penalties and costs, according to state Attorney General Schneiderman — but the AG expects those numbers to grow to $1.8 million owed to about 150 couples once all the jilted couples are counted.
“[Stevens is] permanently enjoined from participating or engaging in any manner in the operation, ownership, control, management, or oversight of any restaurant, catering and/or reception hall, or food venue in the State of New York,” reads the order, issued by Brooklyn Supreme Court justice Loren Bailey-Schiffman.
Stevens faces 3 ¹/₃ to 10 years behind bars on the tax fraud charges when he is sentenced July 21.
A source close to Stevens has told the Post the portly restaurateur was running reBar at a loss and has no money to pay back the couples.