Woman arraigned on 11 felony charges in Keweenaw County

KEWEENAW COUNTY — A Baraga woman was arraigned on 11 felony charges in Keweenaw County 97th District Court Thursday.

Kelly Tapani, 34, was arrested on March 14th after a several month-long investigation conducted by the Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Tapani faces charges of embezzlement by an employee or agent of $50,000 or more but less than $100,000, embezzlement from a vulnerable adult, five counts of illegal use of a financial transaction device and four counts of uttering and publishing.

Both embezzlement charges are both 15 year felonies. Illegal use of a financial transaction device is punishable by up to four years in prison and uttering and publishing is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

The charges stem from the position she held at the Vansville Bar, located in Keweenaw County. The owner of the bar requested the Sheriff’s Office to investigate the alleged embezzlement, which took place over a five month period in 2017.

During those five months, it is alleged that Tapani embezzled between $50,000 and $100,000.

She was released on a personal recognizance bond and is due back in court for a preliminary examination on April 12th.