Director Arrested for Embezzling Funds
A director of a German immersion kindergarten in Brooklyn was taken into custody on Wednesday, faced with accusations of embezzling nearly $3 million in tuition fees. Reports indicate that the individual spent substantial amounts on luxury vacations and wrestling tickets.
Muriel Mischak, who heads Brooklyn’s Kinderhaus in Park Slope, allegedly splurged over $350,000 on tickets to high-profile WWE matches, and even showcased some of these purchases on her Instagram account, as detailed in a federal indictment made public on Wednesday.
Mischak, a Swiss citizen, reportedly funneled approximately $2.75 million from tuition payments into her own accounts for personal gain between January 2022 and October 2025. Court documents describe her as frequently traveling and vacationing, often taking trips across the country every couple of weeks, enjoying luxurious resorts, VIP access to WWE events, all documented on her social media channels.
Part of her indulgence included VIP backstage passes to wrestling events, where she had the opportunity to meet popular wrestlers, according to law enforcement sources. Federal officials say that Mischak spent around $650,000 on travel and entertainment, alongside $150,000 just for food delivery services, as well as hefty sums on luxury items.
The indictment claims Mischak “manipulated” the school’s accounting system to make it seem like the fees were deposited into the school’s bank account while deleting emails that could unveil her scheme. A lawsuit filed by the school highlights that despite earning only $40,000 annually from her role, she managed to live extravagantly, spending $36,000 a year on two apartments in the area.
When questioned about her lavish lifestyle, Mischak allegedly claimed to be receiving financial support from her mother in Basel, Switzerland, though this claim was termed a “ruse” in court documents.
Details remain murky regarding how her actions were discovered, but the principal of the school became aware of the scheme in October 2025 and had to use personal savings to address payroll and operational needs.
Mischak was initially hired at Kinderhaus in 2013 and became principal in 2020. Interestingly, it’s still not clear what drew her to professional wrestling.
She now faces charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and engaging in financial transactions tied to criminal activities.
Mischak’s attorney expressed that his client hopes for a fair resolution in court.
