Former director of a daycare center in Brooklyn was charged by federal prosecutors for allegedly embezzling a substantial amount of tuition fees. According to the indictment made public in the Eastern District of New York federal court on the 25th, defendant Murielle Misczak is accused of diverting tuition payments made by parents over a period of four years into an unauthorized account under her personal control, totaling over $2.75 million.
The indictment states that Misczak was hired as a program coordinator at the daycare center in 2013 and was promoted to director in 2020. Between January 2022 and October 2025, she allegedly took advantage of her position to instruct parents to deposit tuition fees into her controlled account, which were then transferred to her personal bank account. She attempted to conceal her embezzlement by deleting and tampering with the center’s accounting system records.
It is alleged that over $600,000 of the misappropriated funds were used for travel and entertainment expenses, with more than $350,000 spent solely on professional wrestling match tickets. Additionally, there were significant purchases of luxury goods and daily expenses such as takeout and ride-sharing services.
Misczak was arrested yesterday, appeared in court where she was released on a $200,000 bond, and is now required to wear a GPS monitor and adhere to a curfew at home. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella, Jr., stated that the defendant abused her authority by misappropriating funds intended for childcare and education to sustain her lavish lifestyle, betraying the trust of parents and the institution. The prosecution vows to hold her accountable under the law. James C. Barnacle, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, also emphasized that such actions not only involve financial crimes but also undermine public trust in childcare organizations.