Monday, 10 August 2026, 11:19
Salinas-based Taylor Fresh Foods has accused its former Tennessee subsidiary president, Brian Thure, of running a four-year, $32 million embezzlement scheme, according to a federal lawsuit filed June 5. The complaint names Thure's wife Julie, MTS Building and Electrical, an alleged unregistered sham contractor, and the contractor's principal as defendants. The alleged fraud includes a UC Berkeley endowment, a luxury home in Hawaii, and a 400-acre ranch in Humboldt County.
Brian Thure could not be reached for comment.
According to the lawsuit, Brian Thure served as president of the Taylor Fresh Foods subsidiary from 2012 to March 2026. During that time, he allegedly used fraudulent vendor charges, payroll, reimbursements, company credit cards, construction projects, and company entities for his personal benefit.
The lawsuit also alleges that MTS Building and Electrical, an unregistered sham contractor, was used by the couple to funnel stolen money.
The company says the scheme spanned roughly four years. Thure is also accused of bribing other employees to stay quiet about irregularities.
Taylor Fresh Foods said it became aware of the alleged fraud after an IRS audit in early 2025. The agency raised concerns about MTS Building and Electrical, an alleged unregistered sham contractor, and "other questionable reimbursement practices" at the Tennessee subsidiary. The company launched its own investigation, which revealed a "multi-year fraudulent scheme."
The couple allegedly used company funds to make dozens of unauthorized purchases. These included:
UC Berkeley did not respond to questions about whether the endowment still exists or if the university ever received the money.
Brian is also accused of putting his wife on the payroll, allowing the couple to receive unauthorized salaries and bonuses. Other allegedly unauthorized payees included Julie's mother and sister, plus the couple's personal chef, driver, handyman, personal trainer, and aquarium maintenance attendant.
The lawsuit alleges Brian confessed to the fraud scheme on April 8 in a voicemail to CEO Bruce Taylor and in text messages to other colleagues.
Taylor Farms is based in Salinas, the heart of California's agricultural industry. The alleged fraud has direct links to California: the UC Berkeley endowment and the Humboldt County ranch. The ranch purchase involved shipping construction vehicles from Tennessee to Northern California, according to the lawsuit. The company also operates a facility in San Juan Bautista.
Brian Thure played football at UC Berkeley before a brief NFL career. Taylor Farms is one of the largest fresh-cut produce companies in North America. The fraud lawsuit emerged as the company dealt with a multi-state lettuce recall linked to a parasitic infection, though the suit was filed before that recall.
The lawsuit was filed about a month before a massive recall of Taylor Farms' iceberg lettuce, which was linked to a diarrhea-causing parasitic infection and affected at least 27 states.
The lawsuit is civil, not criminal. No charges have been filed publicly. Taylor Fresh Foods is seeking at least $32 million in damages plus attorney fees. The case may push companies to tighten oversight of senior executives, especially those at distant subsidiaries.
