LANSING, Mich. -- The former bookkeeper for the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative is heading to federal prison for four-and-a-half years.
The sentencing was rendered by Judge Hala Jarbou in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. The clerk's office in Lansing told WOOD Radio the sentence was 54 months for Sharon Killebrew.
Killebrew, 70, was the finance director for the agency at the time of the crime. Investigators said she conspired with some members to steal about $1.17 million beginning in 2016. The Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative folded in 2023.
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The Sabo P.R. firm provided the board's impact statement:
We are grateful justice prevailed today as Chief Judge Hala Y. Jarbou sentenced Sharon Killebrew to 52 months in federal prison. However, our hearts remain heavy that we even had to get to this point.
The devastating consequences of Sharon’s selfish actions have been immense: countless families in West Michigan lost access to our vital programs, 35 people lost their jobs and many of our funding partners lost significant investments they made to improve our community. Our organization used to fill a critical gap in early childhood education, giving children and families in underserved communities a much-needed headstart on education. This critical work was carried out by a team of dedicated professionals and supported through numerous community partners and funders. Sharon’s blatant and callous lack of concern for the effects her actions would have on the families we served, our team and partners remains astonishing.
We are grateful to Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Stiffler and his team in bringing this case to its rightful conclusion. We are also very grateful to Brian Lennon, our attorney who worked tirelessly with our board to bring these crimes to light.
It is heartbreaking such a critical resource has been stripped away so needlessly from our community due to the actions of Sharon Killebrew and others, who still must answer for their actions.
Board of Directors
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative
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