Host Mom Laura Ely Stole Exchange Student Tak Kuppatikasems Money & Now Her Dream Too

[Whisper]

Exchange student faces deportation, host mother faces felonies
CENTREVILLE, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - An exchange student from Thailand who has lived in west Michigan for more than five years is facing the possibility of deportation and her former host mother is facing two felony charges in St. Joseph County for stealing the girl's savings.

Laura Ely had an arraignment Wednesday and faces charges of larceny and illegal sale or use of a financial transaction device. The most serious charge could put her in prison for ten years.

Donnapha Kuppatikasem - known as Tak - came to Michigan when she was 16 years old with dreams of becoming a doctor.

"As long as I've known her," said Theresa Hawkins, Tak's friend, "she hasn't changed it."

Theresa met Tak when both attended Colon High School. She spoke to Newschannel 3 on Tak's behalf because Tak is waiting to tell her story of what happened in court. Tak is 21 now, and may have to reconsider her dream. She may lose her student visa because she cannot afford this fall's tuition at WMU. Detectives in St. Joseph County say Laura Ely stole thousands of dollars from Tak.

"[Tak] trusted her," Theresa Hawkins said. "She lived with her for years and years and never knew she was that kind of person, but people can be deceiving."


The probable cause affidavit says Laura Ely slowly drained $17,000 from an account at First State Bank in Middlebury, Indiana, first deposited in June 2008. The affidavit says Ely also took $15,000 deposited in November 2009 at Omni Community Credit Union in Sturgis.

Investigators say Laura Ely also used Tak's credit card without permission at least 10 times at Dury Oil in Sturgis, Kalamazoo Animal Hospital, LaGrange Veterinary Clinic and other locations.

Tak's new host family estimated the credit card purchases total about $4,000.

Theresa Hawkins says Tak never knew about the money disappearing.

"I don't think [Tak] ever did, not until it was gone," Theresa Hawkins said.

The affidavit says Laura Ely did not deny using the money or the credit card. She told detectives she had permission and Tak was aware of every transaction.

Laura Ely is out of the St. Joseph County jail on bond and told Newschannel 3 at her home in Sturgis on Thursday that she did not steal anything. She says the charges are retaliation for evicting Tak from her home in March.

WMU told Newschannel 3 student visa rules require a student to maintain enrollment for the entire academic year. The university says Tak has until September 7th to enroll in classes for the fall semester. Tak's tuition bill is $13,305.38; she owes that to keep her student visa in good standing or risk deportation back to Thailand.

"Like when an unexpected bill comes, you don't have money to pay for it, you're frantic," Theresa Hawkin said, "and you're scared and you don't know what to do. [Tak's] basically screwed."

will appear in court again next week. If you'd like to donate to help Tak pay her tuition, her new host family has set up an account for her at Citizens Bank in Colon. The account is under her full name - Donnapha Kuppatikasem.
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http://www.wwmt.com/articles/faces-1...on-facing.html

Video at link

[Valasca]

Tak has a myspace: http://www.myspace.com/winniethepooh1025
and a FB: http://www.facebook.com/people/Donna...asem/557952052
She's cute.

Still looking for Evil Eli.

[Whisper]

Yeah thats a rotten thing to do
I busted my ass through university and paid my own way
Its a evil thing to do to the kid

[dontcha2010]

Evil Ely has a facebook, but you can't see anything but her picture.

Personally know of this situation, and it goes far deeper than her just stealing money from a foreign exchange student. There are many facets to this. She's quite a gem- like cubic zirconia...
Facet 1: Her then husband made over 60K a year. He was on the road alot. She handled the finances. But HEYYY, bills didn't get paid...she spent the money on her extramarital affairs.
Facet 2: Post divorce, she moves in with a man who had just been released from prison for drug charges, including operating a meth lab in the presence of a minor. Yes, she is still with him and he thinks she walks on water. Man, she must give a good tumble....but they are involved in not one, but two custody cases with his daughters from two different relationships. Seems like the state wants to give him a second chance, prove he won't be a recidivist... wth? Mother of child 1 got a Personal Protection order on Evil Ely because of threats!
Facet 3: This lovely, caring mother ASKED HER MINOR CHILDREN, BOYS AGED 14 AND 10 IF IT WAS OK THAT THEY OVERHEARD HER AND HER BF HAVING SEX! Seriously??? And this doesn't qualify as sexual abuse or exploitation? Note: they actually did overhear this on numerous occasions... they have been bullied, badgered, and brainwashed.
Facet 4: NCP of minor children knew Evil Ely was going to jail, so was trying to get custody of the kids. The agencies involved-and they know who they are- should be flagged for pass interference. I've never seen such gross negligence or dereliction of duty.
Facet 5: the environment in Evil Ely's home has been likened to a cult or commune type... and kids show signs such as the followers of Manson. FREEEEEAAAAKKKYYYYY.

[dontcha2010]

They are filming a new segment for this news story. I will post it when it airs.

[AngelFire]

Wow if what you say is true about Evil Selfish Ely, then this woman needs a beat down in the worst way possible.

[dontcha2010]

yes, its true. and yes, she deserves a beat down.Here's the new news story and link...

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/story-1...l-student.html

WEST MICHIGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Donnapha Kuppatikasem, nick-named Tak, is determined to become a doctor, but now she's in a fight to stay in the U.S. until she can finish her medical degree.

Sadly, that dream may be crushed. Tak's former host mother, Laura Ely, is accused of draining Tak's savings account. That account was supposed to be used to pay for tuition.

Without the money, and without being in school, Tak could be deported.

On Tuesday Newschannel 3 sat down to speak with Tak about her struggle to stay in the U.S.

“At first I didn't believe that she did it,” said Tak.

Tak says she couldn't believe that her host mother would steal from her.

“I lived with her for three and a half years and I trust her,” said Tak, “so she pretty much like a second mom to me.”

The Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students says that Tak's case is not one of a kind.

“Exchange students are commonly extorted monies more than we know,” said Danielle Grijalva, Director of CSFES.

Tak says bank records show that Ely took at least $57,000 from her and her family.

“As of right now, everything we had, it's gone,” said Tak.

Now staying with long-time friends, Tak is trying to figure out what to do next. She's already earned more than 60 college credit hours, but now tuition that should have been paid for is past due and WMU says if she doesn't start making payments by September 7th she could be deported.

Despite her setbacks, Tak says she's trying not to be angry.

“If she, as an alleged victim of extortion, and if she is forced to be repatriated back to her home country through no fault of her own, that's a huge injustice in and of itself,” said Grijalva.

WMU says they've already eliminated $1,100 in late fees and credited Tak with $6,200 more for tuition from her spring semester, but she still owes more than $11,000 that she doesn't have because it was stolen from her.

“It's going to be the end of my dream, I cannot do that without this money,” said Tak.

If Tak doesn't pay $2,800 by September 7th her student visa will expire and she will be deported. She will also lose all her college credits and will not be eligible for another visa for ten years.

After five years in the U.S. she'll have to go back to Thailand and start saving money all over again.

A fund has been set up to help Tak pay for tuition, you can donate at the Citizen's Bank in Colon. The account is under Tak's full name, Donnapha Kuppatikasem.

The Citizen's Bank in Colon is at 121 E. State Street, Colon, MI. The phone number there is 269-432-3125.