
Cheri Gerken (PPIH photo)
FARGO (KFGO) – A Moorhead woman is charged with felony theft after her employer reported over $200,000 had been embezzled.
Court records show Fargo Police were contacted in November 2024 by Presentation Partners In Housing in Fargo (PPIH). PPIH is a Fargo-based non-profit that provides housing assistance to homeless people. The president of the organization told detectives Cheri Gerken had served as executive director. A private forensic accountant found Gerken had used her company credit card for unauthorized purchases.
The accountant found $267,280 was spent using Gerken’s card between January 2019 and November 2023. Of that spending, only $42,000 was for clear business expenses. $225,252 in spending was labeled as ‘no clear business purpose’.
Gerken was fired after the thefts were exposed. Police say she wrote a handwritten note to the board of directors explaining her actions. In the note, Gerken apologized, and said it was difficult to keep up with her bills as well as care for her children without a second income after her divorce. She wrote she used the company card for personal purchases with the intent to pay back what she spent, but was not financially able to do so.
Gerken filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2024.
Gerken was charged in Cass County with felony theft over $50,000 this week. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.
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