Too bad Gregory Podlucky's zeal for fine jewelry and gems didn't match his business sense, or ethics, as CEO at LeNature's.
Mr. Podlucky grossly inflated the Latrobe beverage maker's earnings and cooked -- no, nuked -- the company's books, according to investigators. All the while he stashed in a secret room a king's treasure trove.
A rare green diamond, gold watches, 23,616 assorted rings -- the 46-page inventory of riches could supply Rodeo Drive.
Under the weight of wanton excess if not primordial greed, LeNature's imploded last year in bankruptcy. But not before Podlucky allegedly emptied a brokerage account of "tens of millions of dollars" prior to his removal as CEO, according to court records.
Even banishment didn't stop the exiled Podlucky from reportedly destroying boxes of company records.
Washed up since in the grimy tide of scandal are creditors owed up to $750 million. More than 200 company employees have been idled. And an investigation continues into allegations of money laundering, fraud, forgery and perjury.
Former employees had raised concerns over Podlucky's extravagances when he supposedly was only earning $50,000 annually and company directors commissioned a private investigation. But apparently it led nowhere.
It is as we've seen before: Corporate ignorance is bliss until the wayward ship of complicity runs aground -- and lives and livelihoods are torn asunder.
