A 40-year-old Ortonville mother will spend at least 23 months in prison for embezzling more than $108,000 from an Oxford gym’s parent club.
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Rudy Nichols sentenced Cheryl Ann Zardus to 23 months to 10 years in prison on Jan. 11 for a felony charge of embezzlement over $20,000. The sentence was the maximum the judge could give under sentencing guidelines.
Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton described the courtroom as ‘packed? at Zardus? sentencing. Spectators included Jeni Ochoa, former owner of Elite Gymnastics, as well as several students and parents from the Oxford gym where, as treasurer of the Elite Gym Starz Parent Club, Zardus stole an estimated $108,000 from 2003 to April 2007. The club account held money raised by 80 families to pay meet fees.
‘Cheryl Zardus made a statement, the substance of what was that the money was used for legitimate purposes, but she would never be able to prove that,? said Walton. ‘She didn’t say she was sorry, she always has an explanation.?
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office detectives began investigating Zardus in March, after several checks bounced. According to police reports, 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 has four children.
Ironically, while Zardus was stealing from the Elite parent club, she was also convicted of forgery in federal court in Detroit for an unrelated incident, but through a plea agreement entered a diversion program. Because she has violated conditions of her delayed sentence in that case, she will be in court again Jan. 23.
‘The case is tragic,? said Walton. ‘She destroyed a number of kids? trust in adults. She destroyed a lucrative business and all because Ms. Zardus decided she wanted to live a certain lifestyle.?
Ochoa closed her business on Dec. 22, in part because of Zardus? actions.
‘The economy is hard enough to run a business,? Ochoa said. ‘It was a hard financial year to begin with, with people moving and losing jobs, but when you factor in negative publicity because of her and her slandering the gym and me to defend herself… and I had no money to advertise as we normally do.?
A restitution hearing will be held soon. Walton said Zardus will be eligible for parole in 23 months and restitution paid will be a factor in whether she is granted parole.
‘She has a lot of assets and she could certainly have those items sold,? Walton said. ‘It will get paid back eventually, unless she never owns anything again or never works. You can’t discharge this obligation through bankruptcy.?
‘I’m glad she’s punished, but it’s horrible how this has affected her family and so many others, over greed and money,? Ochoa said. ‘I have to work on forgiving her so I can move on.?