Celebrity chef Shawn Davis, widely known as Chef Big Shake, says he experienced racial profiling and false accusations while trying to deposit a government-issued check in Las Vegas.
The incident has sparked a legal battle, with Davis filing a lawsuit against Wells Fargo and a branch adviser over what he describes as humiliating and discriminatory treatment.
The Incident at the Henderson Branch
According to court documents, Davis, a Florida resident and restaurateur featured on shows like Shark Tank and Rachael Ray, visited the Wells Fargo branch on Anthem Village Drive, about 16 miles outside Las Vegas, on July 11.
He intended to open a business account and deposit a $20,400 U.S. Treasury check he had received the day before.
The complaint alleges that branch adviser David Parra took Davis’s information and left for about 15 minutes.
When he returned, Parra reportedly accused Davis of attempting to deposit a fraudulent check—without providing any evidence.
The accusation, Davis claims, was rooted in assumptions tied to his race.
Branch Manager Supports Accusation
The lawsuit states that branch manager Georgia Bell sided with Parra, claiming she contacted the IRS via a “special line” and confirmed the check was forged.
Bell then allegedly asked Davis to leave the branch, leaving him “distraught and overwhelmed.”
Davis says he sat in his car for nearly an hour, crying after the confrontation.
Check Successfully Deposited Elsewhere
Upon returning to Tampa, Davis visited another Wells Fargo branch, where the same check was deposited without issue.
The Tampa branch reportedly opened a business account for Davis and confirmed that the Henderson branch had not entered notes, created an account, or conducted any legitimate work during the 45 minutes Davis spent there.
Legal Action and Allegations
Davis filed a complaint on Wednesday in Nevada’s Clark County District Court.
The lawsuit accuses Wells Fargo and Parra of racial discrimination, defamation, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
It seeks damages exceeding $15,000, though Davis’s attorney, Milan Chatterjee, emphasizes that the case is about principle rather than money.
Chatterjee said, “Shawn doesn’t need the money, but his story highlights the discrimination and prejudice African Americans often face at the hands of major corporations.
He’s using his experience to bring attention to a nationwide issue.”
Corporate Response Pending
The Daily Mail has reached out to Wells Fargo for comment.
Meanwhile, Davis’s case underscores ongoing concerns about racial bias in banking and the treatment of African American professionals navigating financial systems.
