Community Corner
Former SafeVision President Accused of Embezzlement
The company is suing Joel T. Wishne in St. Louis County.
Webster Groves-based SafeVision, which makes and sells eyewear, has sued company president Joel T. Wishne in St. Louis County.
SafeVision, located at 8045 Big Bend Blvd., makes Romer II safety glasses for the U.S. military.
The glasses are dark wrap-around tinted safety glasses worn by many servicemen and women.
According to court documents, SafeVision alleges that between 2004 and 2011, Wishne, a Chesterfield resident, embezzled more than $1 million.
SafeVision has demanded the return of the money.
A receptionist at SafeVision told a reporter that Wishne is no longer with SafeVision.
In a 2005 article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Wishne said SafeVision outfitted around 1,000 soldiers. "Almost all were in Iraq or Afghanistan, or about to go there," the newspaper quoted Wishne, who was then the company's chief financial officer. "It's increasing. It could easily be 2,000."
Two years ago, Wishne told the St. Louis Business Journal that his company had around $2 million in sales annually.
SafeVision is seeking a judgment from St. Louis County Judge Mark Siegel in excess of $25,000 and punitive damages. Burton Shostak of Shostak & Shostak is representing SafeVision and did not return a call seeking comment.