A former city of Fraser employee accused of embezzling over $100,000 from the city faces a court hearing next week after waiving her right to a preliminary examination.
Michele Kwiatkowski, 57, is scheduled to appear July 24 in front of Macomb County Circuit Judge Diane Druznski after foregoing her right to a probable-cause hearing in 39th District Court last week.
Kwiatowski’s attorney, Eli Muawad, said he and his client are completing their own accounting of the financial transactions to compare it with law enforcement officials’ figures.
A preliminary examination determines whether there is probable cause of a crime and Kwiatkowski committed it to advance the case to the trial court.
The offense is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Kwiatkowski, a former city information technician, is accused of purchasing personal items on a city American Express credit card from January 2016 to 2020, when she left the city. She allegedly purchased purses, dresses, shoes and household items totaling about $120,000, according to a media report.
Kwiatkowski had worked for the city for 28 years.
The case was investigated by Michigan State Police.
Kwiatkowski was one of three female city employees who filed a state whistleblower sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against the city and former Mayor Joe Nichols and former Councilman Matt Hemelberg in 2017.
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