Former Calhoun Conservation District Director Indicted For Embezzlement

The former director of the Calhoun Conservation District has now been indicted on embezzlement charges.

The US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan says that Tracy Bronson of Marshall was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury in Grand Rapids for five counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds; authorities say that between 2014 and 2017, Bronson stole over $500,000 from the Calhoun Conservation District. Prosecutors say that Bronson would write checks to herself, from the Calhoun Conservation District's credit union account.

The crime is a federal one because in 2014, 2016 and 2017, the Conservation District received over $10,000 from the US Environmental Protection Agency and/or U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The Battle Creek Enquirer says that the investigation began in September of 2017, after the Conservation District reported to police that the board learned some money was missing from their account. Tracy Bronson left her job as Executive Director a month earlier.

If Bronson is convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 per count.

The Calhoun Conservation District is an organization dedicated to preserving the environment of Calhoun County and the whole region.