What are the specific charges against the four defendants?

All four—Andrea Bradley-Baskin, Avery Bradley, Nancy Williams, and Dwight Rashad—are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Avery Bradley faces an additional count of wire fraud; Bradley, Bradley-Baskin, and Rashad face several counts of money laundering; Bradley-Baskin faces a count of making a false statement to federal law enforcement.

What is Guardian and Associates, and how was it involved?

Guardian and Associates, owned by Nancy Williams, was appointed as fiduciary by Wayne County Probate Court for over 1,000 incapacitated wards. The defendants allegedly used it to embezzle funds from these wards.

What are some specific examples of the alleged embezzlement?

Examples include using $70,000 of a ward's funds for Bradley-Baskin's bar ownership stake, $203,000 from a ward's legal settlement taken by Bradley, Williams, and Rashad with no benefit to the ward, and ward funds for Bradley-Baskin's two-year Ford Expedition lease.

What is the current status of the defendants?

All four pleaded not guilty at arraignment and were released on $10,000 unsecured bonds. The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert A. Moran and John Neal, with FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation ongoing.

What is the relationship between the defendants?

Avery Bradley is the father of Andrea Bradley-Baskin; they operated a law firm representing Guardian and Associates. Nancy Williams owned Guardian and Associates, and Dwight Rashad operated group homes.

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23d ago

Andrea Bradley-Baskin and Three Indicted in Ward Embezzlement

Prosecutors allege Andrea Bradley-Baskin and three co-defendants conspired to embezzle ward funds, including alleged $70,000 and $203,000 diversions.

Overview

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The Department of Justice announced in a press release that federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Michigan indicted 36th District Court Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin, 46, attorney Avery Bradley, 72, Nancy Williams, 59, and Dwight Rashad, 69, on a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The indictment alleges the defendants conspired to embezzle funds from incapacitated adults appointed to guardianships and conservatorships, and it says Guardian and Associates was appointed as fiduciary in more than 1,000 cases, according to court documents.

U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon said in the DOJ press release that the defendants 'allegedly abused that high honor for personal gain,' and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan said investigators 'will find you and bring you to justice,' according to the release.

The indictment sets out specific alleged diversions, including an alleged $70,000 use of a ward's funds to acquire an ownership stake in a bar, a roughly $203,000 diversion from a ward's legal settlement, and alleged estate funds used to pay a two-year lease on a Ford Expedition, according to court papers.

All four defendants pleaded not guilty at their arraignment, were released on $10,000 unsecured bonds, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert A. Moran and John Neal while the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation continue their probe, according to the DOJ.

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MI Judge Accused of Targeting Incapacitated Citizens in Embezzlement Scheme

Breitbart News•24d ago

Judge And Three Others Charged With Embezzling Hundreds Of Thousands From Incapacitated People

Daily Caller•24d ago

Sitting Detroit Judge, Lawyer Allegedly Looted Vulnerable Wards

Townhall•25d ago

FAQ

Dig deeper on this story with frequently asked questions.

: All four—Andrea Bradley-Baskin, Avery Bradley, Nancy Williams, and Dwight Rashad—are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Avery Bradley faces an additional count of wire fraud; Bradley, Bradley-Baskin, and Rashad face several counts of money laundering; Bradley-Baskin faces a count of making a false statement to federal law enforcement.
Sources:
Fox News
: Guardian and Associates, owned by Nancy Williams, was appointed as fiduciary by Wayne County Probate Court for over 1,000 incapacitated wards. The defendants allegedly used it to embezzle funds from these wards.
Sources:
Fox 2 Detroit
: Examples include using $70,000 of a ward's funds for Bradley-Baskin's bar ownership stake, $203,000 from a ward's legal settlement taken by Bradley, Williams, and Rashad with no benefit to the ward, and ward funds for Bradley-Baskin's two-year Ford Expedition lease.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Justice
: All four pleaded not guilty at arraignment and were released on $10,000 unsecured bonds. The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert A. Moran and John Neal, with FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation ongoing.
Sources:
Fox News
: Avery Bradley is the father of Andrea Bradley-Baskin; they operated a law firm representing Guardian and Associates. Nancy Williams owned Guardian and Associates, and Dwight Rashad operated group homes.
Sources:
Fox 2 Detroit

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