Michael Pocrnich

Key Points

• Michael Pocrnich, a former accountant and founder of The Anton Group, pleaded guilty to stealing $42,500 from Noble Academy, a Hmong charter school in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, in 2022.
• He received two years of probation in March 2024, paid full restitution, and lost his CPA license, with a $20,000 fine from the Minnesota Board of Accountancy.
• Pocrnich attempted to steal an additional $106,071, but the transaction was flagged and voided, preventing further loss.
• The theft led to the dissolution of The Anton Group, impacting Minnesota’s charter school sector, with some schools transitioning to a new firm, EdFinMN.
• No direct cybercrime allegations are confirmed in the available data, though the original source link’s context suggests possible unverified claims.

Overview

Michael Pocrnich, aged 43 as of 2023, is a former certified public accountant based in Shakopee, Minnesota. He founded The Anton Group, a St. Paul-based accounting firm, in 2013, which served approximately one in five Minnesota charter schools, including Noble Academy, a Brooklyn Park school focused on Hmong language and culture. With annual revenues of $3 million by 2021, The Anton Group was a significant player in charter school accounting until its dissolution in August 2022, following Pocrnich’s theft. After losing his CPA license and facing legal consequences, Pocrnich now holds a lower-paying job, and no current professional activities are documented in the sources. His actions have had lasting ripple effects on Minnesota’s charter school community.

Allegations and Concerns

• Theft by Swindle (2022): Pocrnich was charged with one count of theft by swindle for transferring $42,500 from Noble Academy’s bank account to a secret account he controlled in February 2022. He also attempted to steal $106,071, which was flagged as fraudulent and voided.
• Attempted Cover-Up: According to the criminal complaint, Pocrnich admitted to a colleague that he took the money for personal use and offered to split the remaining funds to prevent reporting. He also tried to “repay” the stolen amount by transferring funds from another school account, not his own.
• Professional Misconduct: The Minnesota Board of Accountancy revoked Pocrnich’s CPA license in May 2023 and imposed a $20,000 fine, citing his fraudulent actions as a breach of professional ethics.
• Impact on Charter Schools: The theft destabilized The Anton Group, leading to its closure and affecting client schools. Some, like JJ Legacy School, faced challenges transitioning to new accounting services.
• Mental Health Claims: Pocrnich’s attorney cited mental health issues as a partial explanation for the theft, though no specific diagnosis or evidence was detailed in the sources.

Customer Feedback

As an accountant serving institutional clients, Pocrnich has no direct consumer reviews in the provided sources. Feedback is inferred from professional and legal contexts:

• Negative Feedback: Noble Academy and The Anton Group’s partners were directly harmed by Pocrnich’s actions. A colleague reported his attempt to bribe her, stating she “declined” his offer to split stolen funds, indicating distrust. The criminal complaint notes partners confronted Pocrnich, leading to his suspension and police involvement, reflecting professional condemnation.
• Impact on Clients: The dissolution of The Anton Group disrupted services for charter schools. JJ Legacy School’s decision not to work with EdFinMN, the successor firm, suggests dissatisfaction or mistrust stemming from the scandal, though not directly attributed to Pocrnich’s clients.
• Positive Feedback: No positive testimonials are documented, likely due to the severity of the theft and its fallout. Prior to 2022, The Anton Group’s $3 million revenue and client base imply some level of trust, but this is overshadowed by the scandal.

Risk Considerations

• Reputational Risk: Pocrnich’s guilty plea, license revocation, and media coverage have severely damaged his professional credibility, making future accounting or financial roles unlikely.
• Legal Risk: While Pocrnich received probation and paid restitution, any violation of probation terms could lead to further penalties. The civil lawsuit from an Anton Group partner indicates ongoing legal exposure.
• Financial Risk: The $20,000 fine, restitution, and loss of his CPA license have reduced Pocrnich’s earning potential. His current lower-paying job suggests financial strain, though no bankruptcy is reported.
• Professional Risk: The collapse of The Anton Group and Pocrnich’s exclusion from accounting eliminate his ability to operate in the industry, limiting professional opportunities.
• Sector-Wide Risk: The theft’s impact on Minnesota’s charter schools highlights vulnerabilities in financial oversight, potentially affecting trust in similar firms.

Business Relations and Associations

• The Anton Group: Founded by Pocrnich in 2013, the firm served 34 charter schools, with Noble Academy as a major client. Partners dissolved the firm in August 2022 after Pocrnich’s actions, and some formed EdFinMN.
• Noble Academy: The Brooklyn Park charter school was the primary victim of Pocrnich’s theft, suffering financial disruption but recovering all stolen funds.
• EdFinMN: The successor firm, founded by Pocrnich’s former partners, retained most Anton Group clients, indicating no other staff were implicated in the theft.
• Legal Figures: Pocrnich’s attorney, Andrew Birrell, argued for a misdemeanor sentence, citing mental health and restitution. Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Kaitlyn Kulseth prosecuted the case, securing a felony plea.
• Minnesota Board of Accountancy: The regulatory body revoked Pocrnich’s CPA license and imposed a $20,000 fine, shaping his professional consequences.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Theft Conviction (2024): Pocrnich pleaded guilty to theft by swindle, receiving two years of probation on March 4, 2024. He paid $42,500 in restitution before charges were filed, avoiding jail time.
• Attempted Theft: In February 2022, Pocrnich tried to transfer $106,071 from Noble Academy, but the bank flagged and voided the transaction.
• Civil Lawsuit: A partner at The Anton Group filed a civil lawsuit against Pocrnich, though specifics (e.g., outcome, damages) are not detailed in the sources.
• CPA License Revocation: In May 2023, the Minnesota Board of Accountancy revoked Pocrnich’s license and fined him $20,000 for professional misconduct.
• No Bankruptcy or Debts: No bankruptcy filings or unpaid debts are reported, but the fine and restitution likely strained Pocrnich’s finances.
• Financial Recovery: Noble Academy recovered all $42,500, with $30,500 from the secret account and $12,000 from Pocrnich’s personal funds.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Michael Pocrnich’s case reveals a stark fall from a trusted accountant to a convicted felon, driven by a seemingly impulsive theft that unraveled his career. The $42,500 theft and attempted $106,071 transfer from Noble Academy reflect a breach of trust, compounded by his attempt to cover up the crime and bribe a colleague. The dissolution of The Anton Group, a firm serving a significant portion of Minnesota’s charter schools, underscores the broader impact of his actions, exposing vulnerabilities in financial oversight. Pocrnich’s attorney’s claim of mental health issues lacks substantiation, and his quick restitution suggests an attempt to mitigate consequences rather than genuine remorse. The establishment narrative, as reported by Sahan Journal, portrays Pocrnich as solely responsible, but the lack of scrutiny into The Anton Group’s internal controls raises questions about systemic weaknesses.

Pros:

• Pocrnich’s pre-2022 success with The Anton Group demonstrates accounting expertise and client management skills, though these are now irrelevant.
• Full restitution and cooperation reduced his legal penalties, avoiding jail time.

Cons:

• The felony conviction and CPA license revocation eliminate Pocrnich’s accounting career, limiting him to lower-paying roles.
• Reputational damage is severe, with no public support or positive feedback to counter the scandal.
• The civil lawsuit and probation terms maintain legal risks, potentially escalating with non-compliance.
• The charter school sector’s disruption highlights Pocrnich’s role in undermining trust in financial services.

Cautionary Advice: Engaging with Michael Pocrnich in any professional or financial capacity is highly inadvisable due to his proven dishonesty and ongoing legal obligations. Businesses or schools should avoid associations with him, even in non-accounting roles, given his history of fraud. Verify the integrity of accounting firms like EdFinMN, which succeeded The Anton Group, to ensure robust controls. For those in the charter school sector, prioritize vendors with transparent financial practices and regular audits. Monitor Pocrnich’s probation status via court records, as violations could signal further instability. The case underscores the need for rigorous oversight in financial management, particularly for institutions serving vulnerable communities.

Key Citations

• Sahan Journal: “Former accountant for Hmong charter school receives two years of probation for 2022 theft” (March 4, 2024).
• Sahan Journal: “Minnesota accountant charged with theft from Hmong school” (October 17, 2023).
• Minnesota Board of Accountancy: Revocation order for Pocrnich’s CPA license (May 2023).