A chilling betrayal unfolded in Detroit, as a sitting judge and three others now face federal charges in a scheme that preyed upon the most vulnerable members of their community. The accusations detail a years-long conspiracy to steal from individuals deemed legally incapacitated, those entrusted to their care and protection by the court.
At the center of the scandal is Andrea Bradley-Baskin, 46, a district judge on Michigan’s 36th District Court. Prosecutors allege she brazenly diverted $70,000 from a ward’s funds to purchase an ownership stake in a local bar, and further exploited the estate of another ward to finance a two-year lease on a new Ford Expedition.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office condemned the alleged actions as a “grievous abuse of public trust,” emphasizing that the authority symbolized by a judge’s robe was allegedly used to facilitate personal enrichment at the expense of those most in need. No one, they asserted, is above the law.
Nancy Williams, 59, Avery Bradley, 72, and Dwight Rashad, 69, all Detroit residents, were also charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The indictment paints a picture of a coordinated effort to systematically siphon funds from vulnerable wards and redirect them for personal gain.
The scheme allegedly involved Nancy Williams, owner of Guardian and Associates, an agency appointed by the Wayne County Probate Court to oversee the affairs of over 1,000 incapacitated individuals. Avery Bradley, an attorney, and his daughter, Andrea Bradley-Baskin, operated a law firm frequently representing Guardian and Associates in probate court.
Dwight Rashad, who operated a network of group homes and residential facilities for the elderly, completed the alleged conspiracy. Prosecutors claim the four defendants worked in concert to embezzle funds, effectively looting the bank accounts of those who relied on them for care.
One particularly disturbing example cited in the indictment involves the alleged theft of approximately $203,000 from a ward’s legal settlement. Shockingly, none of this money was used to benefit the ward whose funds were stolen.
Further compounding the alleged fraud, Williams is accused of paying Rashad rent for wards who never actually resided in his facilities. This intricate web of deceit highlights the calculated nature of the scheme and the extent of the alleged exploitation.
The investigation, led by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, uncovered a pattern of systematic embezzlement and money laundering. The charges include wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements to federal law enforcement.
Probate courts rely on guardians and conservators to protect those unable to manage their own affairs. This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential for abuse within that system and the devastating consequences for those who are most vulnerable.
