Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Former Minnesotta Conservator, Stephen Grisham, Faces Federal Theft Charges

by James Eli Shiffer
As a guardian and conservator, Stephen Grisham managed the finances and lives of hundreds of Minnesotans deemed incapacitated by a judge.
Now Grisham is the latest of these court-appointed caretakers to face a criminal charge after the authorities say he embezzled from vulnerable adults under his supervision.

The company founded in 2000 by Grisham, Alternate Decision Makers Inc., handled at least 293 cases before he stepped down last summer in the face of the theft allegations.

Grisham was charged with " misappropriation by a fiduciary" via "criminal information," which is filed in anticipation of a plea deal, The document indicates the embezzlement happened between January 2012 and December 2013, and that Grisham violated laws of the Department of Veterans Affairs governing his role as a fiduciary for "veterans, beneficiaries, and other individuals who were deemed incompetent or were incapable of handling their financial affairs."

An attorney for Grisham declined to comment Wednesday. A plea hearing has not been scheduled. If convicted, Grisham faces up to five years in prison.

Full Article and Source:
Former Conservator Faces Federal Theft Charges

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alternate Decision Makers, Inc.?

A definitional point of order:

al·ter·nate

1. to interchange repeatedly and regularly with one another in time or place; rotate (usually followed by with): Day alternates with night.

2. to change back and forth between conditions, states, actions, etc.: He alternates between hope and despair.

I think he meant to say alternative. Guess he alternated between decision-making and theft.

Thelma said...

The feds are probably tougher than the state prosecutors, but how many VA cases come to surface?
There needs to be an audit.

Betty said...

Good. I hope he faces many years in prison.

Sue said...

Stephen Grisham faces up to 5 years in prison? That's it? 5 years is this truth in sentencing laws? Or is the crook out on good behavior?

This is a punishment a consequence a deterrent for crooks and liars serving as fiduciaries?

Guardianship ~ business deals conducted in a courtroom with opportunity to steal.

Think about what the authorities couldn't prove and what they missed while digging.

Wake up people in Minnesota demand reform you are next.

Anonymous said...

i betcha someone will accept bribe to let him out of all of this
bet i can guess atty behind all of thefts in twin cities area ,now that i would place a bet on

Sylvia said...

Up to 5 years? really? That's the most they can hope for?

The most we could hope for is truth in sentencing laws or it's early out for good behavior. Not much of a deterrent for an agent of the court.

I suggest extending statute of limitations along with harsh sentencing guidelines with mandatory restitution or it's back in prison for all fiduciaries and that includes public guardians who will claim IMMUNITY IMMUNITY IMMUNITY.

Anonymous said...

There is no doubt that he is a liar and a theif. These charges are just the tip of the iceberg. He conned his way in being appointed as a guardian for my mother by making false representations and promises that he later stated that he had no intention to keep. He is the scum of the earth. Five years is too short of a time for him. The lives he has ruined will surpass this time. lets not talk about his trans gender identity problems...