TRAVERSE CITY â The former treasurer of the Northwestern Michigan Fair was arraigned on an embezzlement charge recently in Grand Traverse Countyâs 86th District Court.
Jillian Marie Noel, formerly of Buckley, was charged on May 20 with one count of embezzlement by an agent or trustee of $50,000 or more but less than $100,000 for her connection with incidents dating back to November 2016 to July 2019.
The charge is merely an accusation and not evidence of guilt. Noel is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The prosecution has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Cadillac Michigan State Police Post was contacted in February 2020 by the president of the Northwestern Michigan Fair Association to investigate an embezzlement complaint, according to a release from the Cadillac Post. Police said an accountant for the fair association questioned some charges discovered on a July 2019 bank statement, which led the fair associati
9 & 10 News
May 24, 2021
A woman from Buckley was arraigned on Thursday, May 20 for embezzling money from the Northwestern Michigan Fair Association.
The Michigan State Police Cadillac Post was contacted in February 2020 by the president of NWMFA to investigate an alleged embezzlement complaint.
Jillian Marie Noel, former treasurer at NWMFA was asked to explain charges an accountant discovered on a July 2019 bank statement.
Further investigation showed irregularities going back as far as November 2016.
The year-long investigation revealed Noel embezzled over $52,000.
During the investigation, Noel left the state and went to Florida.
A warrant was authorized in March 2021 for Noel.
While in Florida Noel was contacted by her attorney and was advised to turn herself in.