KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The former director of operations for Kalamazoo Strong and the Kalamazoo Cobras accused of embezzlement has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Kalamazoo County District Court administrators confirm Rachel Kaiser pleaded guilty to using a computer to commit a crime and accepted a Cobbs agreement during her pretrial hearing Monday. The agreement means Kaiser could withdraw her plea if the judge doesn’t follow the sentencing plan outlined in the deal.
Portage officers began investigating Kaiser three days after she resigned from her post with Kalamazoo Strong in January 2017, when the organization’s board members and the owner of the Cobras filed police complaints.
The police report says the treasurer for Kalamazoo Strong started noticing irregularities in withdrawals in December 2016. Some of those transactions were to a specific logo printing company. When confronted, Kaiser said she had used the wrong credit card when making some purchases for the Cobras. However, the Cobras said they didn't use that company, either.