Former Connecticut College administrator goes to prison for embezzlement
The former director of auxiliary services at Connecticut College was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for using various embezzlement schemes to steal $173,000 while employed by the college.
Michael Kmec, 40, of Marlborough had pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
He agreed to repay the full amount to Travelers Insurance, which paid a claim for losses submitted by the college, according to a government sentencing document. He has repaid $70,000 to date.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Kmec began working at Connecticut College in 2006 and was promoted in 2014 to director of auxiliary services. 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, according to the government.
The college terminated him in April 2018 after learning of the thefts. Upon receiving the phone call notifying him of his termination, Kmec prepared and sent several letters apologizing for his conduct that were construed by the recipients to be suicide notes, according to a sentencing memorandum submitted by defense attorney Raymond M. Hassett. Kmec then drove to state police to provide a confession but was turned away. He went to New London police, who opened an investigation and contacted the FBI.
Kmec then entered into inpatient treatment at the Institute of Living at Hartford Hospital, according to the document.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea presided over the proceedings.
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