When you're appointed to protect the most vulnerable people in society, it's generally expected that you won't, you know, steal their money. But federal prosecutors say that's exactly what happened in Detroit, where a sitting judge and three other individuals have been indicted for allegedly running a years-long embezzlement scheme targeting incapacitated people under court protection.
Jerome F. Gorgon, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, announced the indictment of four Detroit residents: Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin, local attorney Nancy Williams, Avery Bradley, and Dwight Rashad. The charges paint a troubling picture of systematic exploitation.
The Charges Stack Up
According to the Department of Justice, all four defendants face conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges. Avery Bradley also faces wire fraud counts, while Bradley-Baskin, Bradley, and Rashad are charged with multiple money laundering offenses. Bradley-Baskin additionally faces charges for allegedly making false statements to federal law enforcement.
How the Scheme Allegedly Worked
The indictment details a pattern of alleged theft from people who couldn't defend themselves. Prosecutors say the defendants embezzled funds that belonged to incapacitated individuals and their estates, using the money for personal gain. The allegations include using one ward's money to purchase a stake in a local bar, taking more than $200,000 from a legal settlement, and spending embezzled funds on personal expenses.
The charges against Judge Bradley-Baskin are particularly striking. Prosecutors allege she sold homes belonging to vulnerable individuals in the probate system to friends, who then resold them for profit—essentially flipping houses that weren't theirs to flip in the first place.
Political Reaction
Attorney General Pamela Bondi weighed in on social media, making it clear that "no one is above the law," including judges, and praised prosecutors for bringing the case. Michigan State Senator Aric Nesbitt, a Republican, also thanked the Department of Justice for tackling corruption in the state.
