Cheryl Ann Zardus pleaded no contest Nov. 16 in Oakland County Circuit Court to a felony charge of embezzlement more than $20,000.
The plea likely means the 40-year-old Ortonville mother will face up to a year in jail and/or probation and comes after several months of investigation found she stole approximately $108,000 from an Oxford gym’s parent club, says Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton.
‘The felony itself is up to 15 years, but we go by a sentencing guideline grid,? said Walton. ‘There’s not a strong likelihood of getting that kind of sentence unless you’re a habitual offender.?
Walton adds that Zardus will be required to pay all the money back during the period of probation and if she fails to do so, the court could sentence her to prison.Oakland County Sheriff’s Office detectives have been investigating Zardus since March, after a complaint was filed by the Elite Gym Starz Parent Club and Elite Gymnastics Owner Jeni Ochoa.
Zardus was treasurer of the club since about 2001, says Ochoa, and as such, took care of an account that held money that had been raised by 80 families to pay meet fees.
The parent club contacted police March 28 after several checks bounced.
According to police reports, the thefts began in 2005, when Zardus opened an account then immediately channeled funds into it from the parents? club account, accessing money by establishing a debit card. She also allegedly wrote checks to herself from the account, using the money to pay for her bills and for extras, including personal use at restaurants and retail stores.
Zardus later admitted to Oxford Detective Kevin McNally that she did this to cover personal expenses due to a divorce she was going through. She is separated from her husband and has four children.
Ochoa said there was never supposed to be a debit card for the parent club account and there were supposed to be dual signatures. Zardus forged the signature of Parent Club Secretary Teresa Terrian and also told her that her signature was no longer needed.
Ironically, the same year Zardus began stealing from the Elite parent club was also the year she was convicted of forgery in federal court in Detroit for an unrelated incident, but through a plea agreement entered a diversion program.
Ochoa is hoping Zardus receives jail time.
‘She’s a habitual con artist,? she said. ‘She was in a diversion program while stealing from us, so I hope they don’t go lightly on her… I know she’ll be ordered to pay (restitution), but will I get it? Probably not. Money will not replace this loss, ever. I would like to pay the debt off she left us with, but the money will never replace the hurt she has put on everybody. No matter what stories she makes up to try and clear her name, fact is fact and she’s a thief.?
Sentencing for Zardus is set for 8:30 a.m., Jan. 4, in front of Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Rudy Nichols.