Former Northwestern Michigan College employee allegedly embezzles money

A former Northwestern Michigan College employee is accused of pocketing more than $43,000 from college coffers through cash bar and event reservation deposits.

Grand Traverse County prosecutors this week charged Laura Margaret Wilson, 41, of Traverse City, with embezzlement of more than $20,000 by an agent or trustee. Judge John D. Foresman arraigned her Friday in 86th District Court on a felony charge that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or $15,000.
Wilson worked for two years as an office manager at Northwestern Michigan College's Hagerty Conference Center, where she collected money and made cash deposits. Officials fired her in September amid reports of missing money.
Wilson received a $2,000 check in April that would have reserved the Hagerty Center for a wedding. But Wilson asked that the check be made out in her name, as opposed to the Hagerty Center. The check writer eventually canceled the reservation but had difficulty receiving a refund because the check was made out to Wilson.
That sparked an investigation by college officials. Wilson admitted she deposited the check into her personal account, which led to her termination, police reports show.
"The college's financials are audited every year, and there was nothing that turned up in any of those audits," said NMC spokesman Paul Heaton. "We asked the auditors to take a more extensive look at things."
The auditor determined Wilson was responsible for more than $43,000 in missing funds from cash bars and event reservations that never were recorded on bank deposits.
"I am ashamed and embarrassed beyond comprehension," Wilson wrote in a statement to police. "Financially, I was spinning out of control, and I truly wish to pay back all of the monies I have taken. When I was taking the money, each time I told myself I needed to pay it back and replace the funds. Obviously, this did not happen, and the result was my termination of employment and now facing the court."
She told police she used the money for day-to-day expenses.
"I would like to repay the money and correct the situation," Wilson wrote. "I am still very ashamed for the person I became while working at the Hagerty Center."
Wilson didn't return a call for comment. She remains free on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.

A former Northwestern Michigan College employee wept in court as she addressed her former colleagues.




"I'm sorry," she said. "I stand before you today, and I'm so very sorry."



Laura M. Wilson, 41, of Traverse City, apologized Friday to her one-time coworkers as she awaited punishment for pocketing more than $59,000 from NMC. Wilson plans to reimburse NMC for money she stole from cash bar and event reservation deposits.



"The decisions that I made were the worst in my life," said Wilson, who is undergoing counseling. "I'm committed to learning why, and I'm trying to correct that."



Her apologies didn't prevent 13th Circuit Court Judge Philip Rodgers from sentencing Wilson to nine months in jail and five years probation. She is allowed work release, court records show.



"This is a very significant amount of money, and it occurred over a long period of time," Rodgers said.



Last month, Wilson pleaded guilty to a felony count of embezzlement of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 by an agent or trustee. Grand Traverse County prosecutors dismissed a count of embezzlement of more than $20,000 in exchange for her guilty plea.



Wilson worked for two years as an officer manager at NMC's Hagerty Conference Center, where she collected money and made cash deposits. Officials fired her in September amid reports of missing money.



She received a $2,000 check last year that would have reserved the Hagerty Center for a wedding. But Wilson asked that the check be made out in her name, as opposed to the Hagerty Center. The check writer eventually canceled the reservation, but had difficulty receiving a refund because the check was made out to Wilson.



That sparked an investigation by college officials, and Wilson later admitted she deposited the check into her personal account, which led to her termination. She told authorities the money was used for day-to-day expenses.