Daycare fraud in Kalamazoo

Officials say a woman who owns a child care center bilked the state government out of almost half-a-million dollars. Catherine Taylor owns Kiddy Care Kingdom Daycare in Kalamazoo. Prosecutors say over a four-year period, she billed the Department of Human Services for child care she didn’t provide to the tune of 440-thousand dollars. Earlier this week, the 58-year old Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of false pretenses of $20,000 or more but less than $50,000. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Under terms of a plea agreement with the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office, a second count of false pretenses of between $20,000 and $50,000 and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime are to be dismissed when Taylor is sentenced April 7, 2014. Taylor has been ordered to make payments toward restitution while she is awaiting sentencing. The prosecutor’s office will recommend probation for Taylor at the time of her sentencing and is reserving the right to recommend jail at that time, according to the plea agreement.  (MRN)