Former MATC employee sentenced to three years in prison for embezzlement
MILWAUKEE - A former MATC employee has been sentenced for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A Milwaukee County judge sentenced Kristen Seimits, the former purchasing director at MATC, to three years in prison and ordered her to pay more than $377,000 in restitution.
She was also sentenced to three years of extended supervision after her prison term and six years probation.
Seimits served MATC for seven years. During that time, she scammed the college out of more than $250,000 through the college's credit cards.
She bought cars, a trip to Florida with her family, furniture, computers and even a wedding trip to Las Vegas.
An outside audit revealed her illegal actions.
Before being led away in handcuffs to prison, an emotional Seimits told the judge that her mental illness took her down the wrong path.
"The illness that I chose to let go on and on, and not deal with properly, caused a flaw in my character," said Seimits. "I think I lost the respect of the most important person in my life, my son."
She and her attorney asked for probation.
"This was in no way shape or form malicious or because I thought I could get away with it," explained Seimits. "Some of the behavior may look like that, but there are other mitigating factors."
Prosecutors say she violated the public trust. "She was the employee who was supposed to prevent this from happening," said Assistant District Attorney David Feiss.
Seimits can appeal the judge's ruling.
"I will work as hard as it takes the rest of my life to give back what I've done," pleaded Seimits.
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