A former college hoops coach is facing charges after being accused of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from students and school fundraisers in Arizona. The Pinal County Sheriff's Office has taken Denise Cardenas, 44, into custody, suspecting her of siphoning around $28,000 intended for student athletes' financial aid and basketball team fundraisers.
Details about this allegation came to light as four students, a parent, and Central Arizona College pointed the finger at the ex-coach for engaging in fraudulent activities. The alleged theft occurred over a period stretching from 2021 to 2022, and Cardenas has since been slapped with multiple theft and fraud charges. In a press release obtained by 12 News, authorities claimed that Cardenas instructed students to return part of their scholarship money directly to her personal account.
With the investigation initiated in August 2022, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office's work has led to Cardenas's recent arrest in Yuma on February 24th. As FOX 10 Phoenix reported, the sum of nearly $28,000 was allegedly pocketed by the former coach, affecting a total of six victims who have currently come forward.
Concerns that there might be more victims remain high as the sheriff's office continues to probe deeper into the case. PCSO urges anyone with additional information to step forward and assist in the ongoing investigation by calling 520-866-5111. In the hopes of unearthing further victim, the PCSO is appealing to the public for any potential leads.
