This article details a federal indictment involving Andrea Bradley-Baskin, a district judge on Michigan’s 36th District Court, and three other Detroit residents who are charged with participating in a years-long scheme to embezzle money from vulnerable and incapacitated individuals. This article also comments on the corruption that is common in the probate courts in Los Angeles, California. This is the common type of corruption in all probate courts in the United States.
The Accused Individuals
- Andrea Bradley-Baskin: A district judge on Michigan’s 36th District Court.
- Nancy Williams: Owner of Guardian and Associates, a fiduciary agency appointed by the Wayne County Probate Court to manage cases for incapacitated adults.
- Avery Bradley: An attorney who operated a law firm with his daughter, Andrea Bradley-Baskin.
- Dwight Rashad: An operator of group homes and residential facilities for elderly individuals, including wards of the court.
The Allegations
Prosecutors allege that the defendants conspired to systematically steal funds from “wards”—individuals who have been legally declared unable to manage their own personal or financial affairs.
Key points of the scheme include:
- Personal Enrichment: The judge is accused of using $70,000 in funds from a ward’s estate to buy an ownership stake in a local bar, and using embezzled money to pay for a two-year lease on a new Ford Expedition.
- Exploitation of Fiduciary Roles: The group is accused of looting bank accounts and exploiting their legal authority to misappropriate money belonging to vulnerable citizens who relied on them for protection.
- Specific Fraudulent Activities: In one cited instance, three of the defendants allegedly took approximately $203,000 from a ward’s legal settlement, with none of the money benefiting the ward. Additionally, Williams is accused of paying rent to Rashad for wards who were not actually residing in his facilities.
Current Legal Status
The defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and, in the judge’s case, making a false statement to federal law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon emphasized the severity of the charges, calling it a “grievous abuse of our public trust” by officials who were supposed to protect the needy.
The case is currently under investigation by the FBI and the IRS-Criminal Investigations unit.
PVU Commentary
This is another example of how criminal lawyers and judges operate in the probate courts. This is common in the Los Angeles Superior Court probate departments. Unfortunately for the victims of this judicial system, no major prosecutions have come down yet. This is judicial criminal racketeering under the color of authority! The judges in the Los Angeles judicial system are allowing these crimes to continue and are actually protecting the perpetrators.
Reports have been made to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department that provides security for the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. None of the deputies or their supervisors will investigate or even take a police report. PVU has a recording of a Sheriff’s Deputy Supervisor stating that the Sheriff’s Department has no jurisdiction in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.
Many complaints have been filed with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office. The LA DA will either refuse to take any action or state in writing that complaints of criminal misconduct by judges and lawyers in the courthouse are not crimes.
Probate Victims United is working to bring about judicial reforms at all levels of government. The entire United States judicial system needs to be reformed. Higher levels of accountability and transparency are needed for all judges. There should also be election reforms for how judges are elected and appointed.
Citation
Norman-Diamond, G. (2026, January 31). Detroit judge, 3 others charged in alleged scheme to embezzle money from wards. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/us/detroit-judge-3-others-charged-alleged-scheme-steal-thousands-from-vulnerable-incapacitated-people