Former Connecticut College Employee Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charge Stemming from Embezzlement Schemes

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian C. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that MICHAEL KMEC, 40, of Marlborough, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of wire fraud related to an embezzlement scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kmec began working at Connecticut College in New London in 2006.  In 2014, Kmec was promoted to Director of Auxiliary Services of the college.  In that position, he oversaw the print shop, bookstore, vending machines, transportation, laundry services and residence halls.  He also oversaw the Camel Card program, which is an identification and debit card used at the college.  As part of his responsibilities, Kmec oversaw approval of various third-party reimbursements for services to the college.

Beginning in approximately 2014 and ending when he was terminated by Connecticut College in April 2018, Kmec defrauded the college through various embezzlement schemes, including receiving funds from the college through fraudulent billing schemes, diverting checks to the college to a bank account he controlled, diverting money from the Camel Card program to bank accounts he controlled, and misappropriating a college laptop.  He also fraudulently deposited more than 80 reimbursement checks that a contractor for the college had issued to Connecticut College students into a bank account he controlled.

Through these schemes, Kmec stole $173,010.

Kmec is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea on February 12, 2019, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.