Former daycare owner indicted for embezzling hundreds of thousands in daycare's federal funds, admits to extravagant personal expenses

 

A former owner of a Milwaukee daycare has been charged with embezzling thousands of dollars meant for the children.

Omar Jackson was a manager and minority owner of Learning Through Technology Childcare Academy until last year.

He was indicted Monday after reaching a plea agreement with federal prosecutors last year.

The agreement says Jackson set up a secret bank account in the daycare's name in 2016.

Then he had more than $547,000 of the daycare's subsidies from state and federal programs deposited into that account.

According to the plea agreement, Jackson used a significant amount of that money on a nearly year-long spending spree, including $17,000 on tickets to Wrestlemania, Packers playoff games and NBA games.

Jackson also admits in the agreement to using the money on golf trips, family vacations and rent and car payments.

Court records say he spent more than $120,000 in personal expenses.

Toward the end, prosecutors say Jackson tried to transfer $275,000 into a personal checking account.

Also in the plea agreement, Jackson admits to taking $40,000 from what was more or less the parents' tuition payments.

The daycare is under new management. Employees chose not to comment.

Some parents told CBS 58 they're glad Jackson's gone so all the subsidy money can now go toward their children's education.

Jackson faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.