Holly Christina Photography bride says FBI contacted her and is looking into the case

There are new developments in the ABC11 Troubleshooter investigation into Holly Christina Photography, the Raleigh-area wedding photography company accused of taking thousands of dollars from couples and failing to provide promised services.

A customer of Holly Christina Photography tells Troubleshooter Diane Wilson that the FBI contacted her and an agent told her the agency is looking into the case to determine whether a federal crime was committed. The FBI declined to comment.

Meanwhile, a judge is considering whether to grant a default judgment against Holly Christina Photography and its owners, Holly Scott Ayscue and Christopher Owen Ayscue, in the civil lawsuit brought by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson.

The Attorney General's Office is asking for nearly $600,000 in restitution for consumers and more than $1.1 million in civil penalties, nearly $1.7 million combined. The state is also asking the court to require the company to turn over photos and videos that customers paid for but have not received.

The latest court filing alleges the Ayscues failed to fully comply with an earlier court order requiring them to provide customers with their undelivered photos and videos. According to the Attorney General's Office, it has now received 228 consumer complaints. The state says 142 of those consumers have not been refunded and are owed nearly $600,000. The Attorney General's lawsuit was filed in February after Wilson's investigation brought dozens of complaints to light.

The developments come as Holly and Christopher Ayscue face felony charges of obtaining property by false pretenses.

The charges stem from the case of Morgan Bales and her husband, who say they paid Holly Christina Photography more than $5,600 to photograph and document their wedding.

According to arrest warrants, the company closed before the wedding, did not provide the contracted services, and did not refund their money. The Ayscues appeared in court in August and later spoke publicly with Wilson. Holly Ayscue told Wilson, "I have done everything in my power to fulfill what I can. It has been very difficult in our family."

Christopher Ayscue said, "We are working our hardest to fix everything the fastest we can." Holly Ayscue also said she had been hospitalized twice and that a medical illness contributed to the business failing.

Wilson reached out to Holly Christina Photography and its owners for comment on the latest developments. We have not heard back.