Former aide to Kalamazoo businessman Jon Stryker pleads guilty to $1.6 million fraud

Former aide to Jon Stryker pleads guilty to fraud

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A woman accused of stealing more than $1 million from a prominent Kalamazoo businessman to buy personal luxuries pleaded guilty to fraud Friday.

Janet Karpus, 50, was an executive assistant to Jon Stryker, grandson of the founder of the medical-device company Stryker Corp.

She acknowledged using credit cards and checks tied to credit accounts that belonged to his business, Depot Landmark, which rehabs historic buildings in the area.

“Expensive guitars, watches, eyeglasses. She used it to pay some of her own debts,” defense attorney Scott Mertens said after the guilty plea in federal court in Grand Rapids.

“I really believe it was some sort of manic behavior,” Mertens said. “It’s something she’s in counseling for now. There’s no excuse.”

The loss is pegged at $1.6 million. The maximum punishment is 10 years in prison, but Karpus’ sentencing guidelines will be much lower. She returns to court Sept. 14.

“Ms. Karpus is deeply sorry and has accepted responsibility. Court was another big cathartic experience for her,” Mertens said.

Karpus was vice president of Depot Landmark before becoming director of the Garth Newel Music Center, an arts organization in Bath County, Va. She resigned in April.