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Toxic episode 5 explores the story of Anthony Strangis, the ex-husband of convicted criminal Sarma Melngailis. Strangis was responsible for a series of crimes, including a scheme to defraud, grand larceny, and violation of labor law.
Toxic episode subject Anthony Strangis, along with Sarma Melngailis, conspired to defraud investors, steal from investors, and scam the employees of their raw vegan restaurant, Pure Food & Wine. It was in May 2016 when Strangis, along with Sarma Melngailis, was arrested at a hotel in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Episode 5 of Toxic explores the complete series of crimes committed by Sarma Melngailis and Anthony Strangis. The episode was released on June 9, 2025, on ID.
What is the story of the Toxic episode subjects, Anthony Strangis and Sarma Melngailis?
As reported by Vanity Fair, in 2011, Anthony Strangis first started communicating with Sarma Melngailis through Twitter. As reported by the New York Post, Strangis was previously married to a woman, Stacy Strangis, till 2010.
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As reported by the New York Daily News, after Anthony started talking to Melngailis through Twitter, they embarked on a relationship. It was in 2016, when the Toxic episode subject Anthony Strangis got married to Sarma Melngailis.
What are the crimes committed by Anthony Strangis and Sarma Melngailis?
As reported by Men's Health, Sarma Melngailis was once the owner of Pure Food & Wine, one of New York City's high-end raw vegan restaurants. The restaurant was visited by major celebrities, including Bill Clinton, Owen Wilson, and Alec Baldwin.
However, as reported by Eater, it was in January 2015, when the staff from Melngailis' restaurant walked out in large numbers. It was reported that Sarma Melngailis failed to pay wages to her employees for months. As reported by Gothamist, the employees complained that their wages have been held since July 2014.
As reported by Grub Street, Melngailis' restaurant reopened in April 2015, but most of the staff refused to work again. As reported by Newsweek, by July 2015, the staff again complained of unpaid wages. As reported by Marie Claire, the Pure Food and Wine restaurant closed down completely in 2016.
Investigation into crimes committed by the Toxic episode subjects, Anthony Strangis and Sarma Melngailis
As reported by by LSM+, on May 12, 2016, the Toxic episode subjects Anthony Strangis and Sarma Melngailis were arrested from a hotel in Sevierville, Tennessee. Reportedly, the couple ordered a Domino's Pizza, and this was tracked by the authorities.
As reported by CBS News, both Strangis and Melngailis were wanted for a scheme to defraud, larceny, and violation of labor. Sarma Melngailis was also wanted for criminal tax fraud. As reported by Men's Health, both Strangis and Melngailis faced up to 15 years behind bars and agreed to take plea deals.
As reported by Men's Health, the couple was accused of stealing almost $2 million from investors, and the government was owed over $400,000 in taxes. As per Gothamist, in May 2017, the Toxic episode subject Sarma Melngailis pleaded guilty to her tax fraud charges, scheming to defraud, and stealing from investors.
As reported by the New York Daily News, Sarma Melngailis filed for a divorce from Anthony Strangis in May 2018. As reported by Men's Health, both Strangis and Melngailis were imprisoned in Rikers Island in New York.
As reported by Newsweek, it was in October 2017 when the Toxic episode subject Sarma Melngailis was released from prison. Reportedly, Anthony Strangis spent over a year behind bars. He was released on five years' probation in 2017.
Check out our other articles to learn more details about other cases on Toxic.
