Former food truck manufacturer CEO faces scrutiny amid bankruptcy, lawsuits, and new ventures

FOX 35 investigates food truck troubles

FOX 35 News Reporter Marie Edinger has been reporting on an Orlando food truck manufacturing company called One Fat Frog since February 2024. Customers claim in lawsuit after lawsuit that the company took their money but never delivered the food trucks or trailers their contracts with One Fat Frog promised.

ORLANDO, Fla. - FOX 35 News Reporter Marie Edinger has been reporting on an Orlando food truck manufacturing company called One Fat Frog since February 2024.

Customers claim in lawsuit after lawsuit that the company took their money but never delivered the food trucks or trailers their contracts with One Fat Frog promised.

Edinger had just got her first chance to speak with Amin Hassanien, the former CEO of One Fat Frog, after a tipster told her he was at a restaurant convention in Orlando, heading a new company in the exact same industry.

"Seven-hundred families who put their life savings into this - into what was once your company – some are now left homeless," Edinger said to Hassanien. "I’m wondering how you wound up here and what’s happening with people whose money was lost?"

"I really feel bad for these people," Hassanien told Edinger. "I wish I could offer help for them, but I am in the same position."

When One Fat Frog closed earlier this year, they owed $18 million. The Bankruptcy Trustee handling One Fat Frog’s case believes $12 million associated with One Fat Frog was brought overseas.

Hassanien told Edinger he would leave the company in November 2022.

"Everything was good, we were doing amazing," he said of that time period with the company.

He says he doesn’t know a thing about the bankruptcy or what led to it. In research over the past 11 months of reporting on the company, FOX 35 has found documentation that shows a history of financial issues.

"You did already have some problems with loans prior to 2022," Edinger told Hassanien. "By that point, there were already delays happening."

"I was behind on 184 trailers, but none of them were a year," he argued. "There were no issues with banks or anything before I left."

MORE STORIES:

There were, in fact, a lot of issues with banks and things before he left, and multiple year-long delays. FOX 35 found dozens of lawsuits filed with varying outcomes. Some still have ongoing litigation.

"People put the deposit down to pay for the start of their trailer, but if they weren’t being built, where does that money go?" Edinger asked Hassanien.

"I think you need to ask Connie that," he replied.

Connie Baugher is Hassanien’s ex-wife, who became the sole owner and shareholder of One Fat Frog after Hassanien left. She is cooperating with investigators. Edinger has been reaching out to her since June. She’s repeatedly declined to interview, but has spoken with Edinger via text and phone call. She’s repeatedly pointed blame at Hassanien. Hassanien tells Edinger his credit is shot, and he’s working day and night just to survive.

"I lost the house, I lost the company," he said. "I lost everything - more than anyone else."

Documents show American Express has filed two lawsuits against Hassanien for more than $1.25 million on credit cards he says were used on expenses for One Fat Frog. Hassanien is suing his ex-wife for those charges. And in the meantime, he’s the agent for two new companies: Phoenix Food Trucks, and Maverick Manufacturers, which makes pizza ovens and walk-in coolers.

"Where did that money come from? To open Phoenix?" Edinger asked Hassanien.

"I didn’t take any money from One Fat Frog to open Phoenix Food Trucks. That absolutely has nothing to do with each other," Hassanien said.

Hassanien got those companies licensed in January 2023, three months after he left One Fat Frog. Court records show one of those companies, Maverick, was already getting sued by a company in North Carolina that August; Maverick and Phoenix were both named in lawsuits in Orange County this summer.

"I can show bank statements, I’m willing to show everything," Hassanien told FOX 35 Reporter Marie Edinger. "I don’t have anything to hide."

Edinger followed up later that day, asking again for those documents. Hassanien declined to provide them. The Attorney General’s Office told FOX 35 the investigation into One Fat Frog is ongoing. The investigation is led by a division that handles laws relating to the Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

One Fat Frog had a preliminary hearing for their bankruptcy on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: