Farmington Non-profit CEO Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement: Feds

FARMINGTON, CT — The former CEO of a Farmington non-profit organization has pleaded guilty to fraud charges, according to Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Michael Meakem, 59, of Norwich, pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to one count of wire fraud stemming from an embezzlement scheme.

According to prosecutors, Meakem was the president and chief executive officer of the Center for Financial Training, a Farmington-based non-profit organization that provided continuing education to employees in the financial services industry.

Between 2013 and 2020, Meakem embezzled at least $683,202 from the organization's credit card accounts and bank accounts and used the funds on personal expenses, including alimony payments, meals, cruises, other vacations, and gambling at Connecticut’s casinos.

Wire fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Meakem is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 3.

Meakem was released $100,000 bond pending sentencing.