The former chief executive of Bellum Entertainment, a television production company, is now the subject of an FBI manhunt tied to a federal fraud case involving millions of dollars. Prosecutors allege Mary Carole McDonnell fled to Dubai after using false claims about an $80 million trust and fabricating trust-company documents to obtain a $15 million loan from Banc of California, receiving approximately $14.7 million.
Antonio Sabato Jr., who hosted Bellum's syndicated home makeover series "Fix It & Finish It," stated he was unaware of the federal charges against McDonnell until contacted by reporters. "I didn’t know anything at all until you guys called," Sabato told Fox News Digital.
McDonnell was indicted in federal court in 2018 on five counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Investigators state she is wanted in connection with an alleged scheme carried out in Los Angeles and Orange counties between July 2017 and May 2018. The FBI indicated that McDonnell is believed to be in Dubai.
A federal arrest warrant for McDonnell was issued on December 12, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The FBI described her as a White female, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a scar on her right knee. The bureau urges anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact their local FBI office or the nearest American embassy or consulate.
Sabato, who served as the host, creator, and producer of "Fix It & Finish It," said he was not involved in Bellum's finances. The series involved him and a small crew renovating homes for families in need across various cities. He described the work as physically demanding but deeply meaningful, with the team completing a different home project each weekday.
"It was called ‘Fix It & Finish It,’ but it was really fixing their souls," Sabato said. "I’ve seen grown men, grown women, just [in] tears."
Sabato stated he had no firsthand knowledge of the allegations against McDonnell and did not observe any warning signs at the time. He also mentioned he was never contacted by the FBI or other federal investigators after McDonnell's indictment. He recalled McDonnell as a polished executive who discussed Bellum's shows and the potential of the renovation series during company meetings.
Sabato expressed that the show's abrupt cancellation had long puzzled him, and he was left "speechless" upon learning the extent of McDonnell's alleged fraud. "It felt weird," Sabato said when Bellum canceled the series. "And I said, something's going on. I just felt something was up. And then my producer called me and said that they pulled the plug." He added that the criminal case has provided new context for the company’s financial difficulties. "I would want to ask her someday, 'Why did you do that? Why would you go and create this hell?'"
Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Banc of California, and the FBI's Los Angeles field office for comment. An attorney for McDonnell was not immediately available.