By: Maria Allard | Grosse Pointe Times | Published July 13, 2016

Ywanda Ndiaye


GROSSE POINTE WOODS — After an investigation that began several months ago, the former treasurer of the Parcells Middle School Parent Teacher Organization has been charged with embezzling funds.

On the morning of July 8, Grosse Pointe Woods Municipal Court Judge Theodore Metry charged Ywanda Ndiaye with embezzlement of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000 from a nonprofit or charitable organization. She was released on a $15,000 cash or surety bond.

The Grosse Pointe Woods Department of Public Safety began an investigation into the Parcells Middle School PTO this past winter. Parcells is part of the Grosse Pointe Public School System.

According to a news release from Grosse Pointe Woods Detective Ryan Schroerlucke, the Parcells Middle School president came to the department Feb. 27 to make a police report regarding funds missing from the PTO’s checking account.

The president reported there was a total of 14 transactions totaling more than $7,700 between September 2015 and January 2016 made by the PTO’s treasurer, Ywanda Ndiaye.

“These transactions included bank withdrawals and PTO checks written to ‘cash,’ signed and cashed by Ndiaye with no proof of PTO purchases, receipts or invoices,” Schroerlucke stated in the news release.

Schroerlucke, who was in charge of the case, said information about possible missing funds came to light when Ndiaye gave her monthly treasurer’s report to the board after this year’s annual holiday bazaar. According to Schroerlucke, the event usually brings in $11,000, but this year’s bazaar netted only $5,000, which according to the news release, “raised red flags with the PTO board.”

Police said the board then questioned Ndiaye and requested that she provide the board with monthly bank statements dating back to December 2014 and provide information to view the checking account online. According to the news release, Ndiaye never responded or provided the information, and she was voted off the board.

After reportedly getting no response, Grosse Pointe Woods detectives reportedly executed a search warrant on Ndiaye’s Harper Woods home and recovered all the PTO’s financial documents, checkbook, banking information and other property belonging to the PTO.

After completing the investigation, the Grosse Pointe Woods Department of Public Safety turned over its findings to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for review and authorization of charges.

Grosse Pointe Woods police reportedly arrested Ndiaye July 7. Kesia Reeves is Ndiaye’s attorney, according to the court. Telephone messages left for Reeves for comment on the case were not returned by press time.

According to police, the embezzlement charge is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or $15,000 or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater.

Ndiaye was due back in court July 13, after press time, for a probable cause conference. A preliminary examination had been scheduled for 1 p.m. July 27.