Defendants plead guilty in $65 million scam to coax elderly people into sending cash to short-term rentals

by Staff and Wire Reports

The lead defendant in the prosecution of a national elder fraud ring to scam around $65 million from victims across the country pleaded guilty Tuesday in San Diego federal court.

Prosecutors say the scheme involved conspirators posing as tech support, government officials or bank employees who instructed victims to withdraw money in cash, then send it in packages to locations provided by members of the fraud ring.

The addresses where victims mailed their packages were short-term rentals, which prosecutors say allowed conspirators to quickly relocate and continue the scheme at new properties.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a law enforcement investigation into the scheme began after a victim reported mailing thousands of dollars in packages that were addressed to a San Diego-area short-term rental.

Law enforcement was also aided by YouTube content creators who posted videos online exposing members of the scheme, prosecutors said. In sting operations, the creators, “Pierogi” of “Scammer Payback,” and two others from “Trilogy Media,” lured members of the conspiracy, then exposed them in videos.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the posts helped law enforcement identify members of the fraud organization.

Hua Wang, 48, of Flushing, New York, was responsible for the collection of more than 2,000 cash packages that elderly victims sent to to the rental units. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy counts related to wire and mail fraud, as well as money laundering.

Eleven others in the case have pleaded guilty over the past two months, while two others are slated to enter guilty pleas later this month, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. More than 30 defendants, who range in age from 23 to 48, have been charged.  Federal agents coordinated last summer to make arrests in Southern California, Texas, Michigan and New York.

Sentencings are set to begin July 7. Wang’s is set for Sept. 18.

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Defendants plead guilty in $65 million scam to coax elderly people into sending cash to short-term rentals 

Why Older Adults Are Vulnerable to Abuse – And Why It Often Goes Undetected

Written by: Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP

NOTE: This article is Part 1 of our Elder Abuse Awareness series published in recognition of Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Older adults are among the groups of individuals most vulnerable to abuse, and because of this, they are frequently targeted for abuse and neglect by individuals who seek to take advantage of them for nefarious purposes and personal gain.

The harm they suffer is compounded by the fact that elder abuse often goes unnoticed and unreported for extended periods of time – resulting in an increased duration and severity of abuse against these individuals. A number of factors contribute to this problem, and help explain why abuse may continue against an older victim without meaningful intervention – even when the signs are there.

Elderly Individuals are Prime Targets for Abuse

There are a number of reasons why elderly individuals can be prime targets for abuse. The circumstances giving rise to the elder person’s social isolation and loneliness tend to coincide with factors which make an elderly person an attractive target for abuse.

Financial Abuse and Exploitation of the Elderly

When it comes to financial abuse and exploitation of the elderly, older adults are often targeted when at a crossroads in their lives – having amassed a savings over the course of their careers, now either retired or about to retire, there is often a liquidable stockpile of savings that abusers believe is ripe for the taking. For older adults navigating the recent loss of a spouse or partner, the individual may have just been thrust, for the first time, into finding themselves solely responsible for managing all of the household finances. Others may be unable to live independently, due to their medical needs – loneliness and emotional isolation can often take a significant toll on an elderly person, impacting their own perspective on their personal and financial priorities.

In these moments, elderly individuals often seek the help and guidance of someone who can assist them in managing their day-to-day finances, including paying their bills, reconciling accounts, and monitoring investments. However, this increased level of access and information that a friend, relative or caregiver may obtain when assisting an elderly person with their needs can create a line of personal access to information and documentation traditionally limited to a small, secure audience of trusted individuals – which, if that trust is misplaced, can grant an untrustworthy individual unfettered access to their financial and personal information to be used for problematic and self-serving goals.

The “Loneliness Epidemic” and Why Elderly Individuals are Vulnerable to Financial Abuse

For many elderly individuals who are coping with loss and change to their day-to-day lives – perhaps due to the death of a spouse or partner, they are now living alone for the first time. The emotional component of these major lifestyle changes can be profound, and the resulting loneliness that seniors often experience amidst these changes makes them susceptible to manipulation by others, and a target for those seeking to take advantage of their vulnerability.

For seniors who are suddenly living alone, for the first time in many years, engaging in innocent, well-intentioned outreach through social media groups for widows/widowers, or seniors seeking friendship and companionship, can easily lead to inadvertent sharing of personal information that can be used against them by elder abusers-in-waiting. Romance scams, for example, are a growing trend and a common method of financial abuse perpetrated against the elderly by internet scammers who prey upon the loneliness of seniors, offering attention and affection as a means by which to ultimately extort the individual’s assets – leaving a trail of financial and emotional destruction in their wake. In most cases, a lack of familiarity with internet technology, difficulty detecting the signs of fraud in these online communications, and a willingness to set aside doubt in the hope that the romance itself is real, all contribute toward the increase in these scams targeting older adults.

Increased Vulnerability Among Cognitively-Impaired Elderly Individuals

Age-related cognitive decline, and more profound forms of impairment resulting from conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, also contribute heavily to the prevalence of elder abuse. The natural biological process of aging causes decreased mental processing speed and a decreased ability for older individuals to detect and accurately identify deceptive cues and manipulation, making it much more difficult for elderly people to recognize that they are being targeted for financial abuse.

Cognitively-impaired individuals are often unable to meaningfully review, interpret and monitor their finances – they are often limited in their ability to review bank statements, monitor fraud alerts, or balance a checkbook. The difficulty these individuals have in managing their own personal finances makes them a target for potential scam activities or financial exploitation, and a person suffering from cognitive impairment may not have the presence of mind or judgment to prioritize maintaining the security and confidentially of their financial information. They may inadvertently share financial account numbers, pin numbers, or give out other sensitive information, without realizing their error until it is too late, and they’ve effectively handed over the roadmap to their own financial exploitation.

Cognitive impairment not only presents an opportunity for abuse, but a practical barrier to putting a stop to the abuse once it starts. For cognitively impaired individuals, common symptoms and manifestations of these conditions, such as confusion, and difficulty recalling facts and events with certainty, can undermine the credibility of their accounts, and lead others to question or dismiss reports of abusive behavior. Memory loss may also prevent elder abuse victims from remembering that the abuse occurred at all, creating an opportunity for an abuser to act repeatedly without much fear of it being reported – and making it difficult for the victim to seek justice for the crimes perpetrated against them.

Aging Can Increase Vulnerability to Physical Abuse and Conceal its Existence

Elderly people are also at increased risk of physical abuse, for a variety of reasons.

The natural effects of aging – such as decreased mobility, weakened strength, and physical frailty – make older adults less capable of defending themselves, less able to remove themselves from unsafe situations, and more likely to suffer serious injury even from relatively minor physical force. Given certain physical and cognitive limitations many elderly people experience, elderly individuals are also more likely to be limited in their ability to determine what practical steps they would need to take if they want to seek help, or escape an abusive situation.

Further complicating this issue is that many physical signs of abuse can be masked, or explained away, as “accidental falls” or other legitimate injuries that older adults are more naturally prone to as they age. This makes it easier for abusers to conceal their abusive conduct behind plausible explanations for injuries that might otherwise serve as telltale indicators of abuse, making signs of elder abuse less obvious to a casual observer.

Social Isolation and Dependence on Caregivers Contribute Toward Abuse, Makes It Harder for Victims to Report

Social factors associated with aging – chief among them, victims’ social isolation and their dependence on caregivers – are also significant contributors toward this issue.

For older adults who live alone, a caregiver or companion may be the only person they see on a daily basis. Abusers often work to isolate their victims further—limiting access to family members or friends who might ask questions about unexplained injuries, unusual financial transactions, or other warning signs. This isolation serves as a practical barrier to bringing help to the victim, allowing the abuser’s conduct to go undetected.

In some cases, a caregiver may exploit the dependence an older adult has on them for assistance with activities of daily living and other basic necessities, manipulating the person into accepting or concealing predatory financial arrangements or abusive treatment out of fear of abandonment.

For those who rely on their abuser for physical assistance – preparing meals, helping them to the bathroom, administering medication – reporting abuse raises a terrifying question: Who will take care of me if I speak up? Even when an older adult senses that something is “not right” about their situation, the fear of being abandoned or involuntarily placed in a nursing home or assisted living facility may be enough to discourage them from seeking help – especially if no alternative caregiving arrangement is known to them.

The victim may reason that the financial exploitation they are suffering is an acceptable “cost” of maintaining their caregiving arrangement and remaining in their own home. Victims may also fear retaliation—particularly if they live with their abuser, or reside in a residential care facility where they may be vulnerable to escalated abuse, if their report is not believed or acted upon.

Complicated Family Dynamics Can Discourage Reporting

Attachment to family members and a desire to preserve the existing family dynamic can make elder abuse victims more likely to tolerate abusive behavior by their children or other relatives—and less likely to report it. This is particularly common when older adults have already lost other loved ones—spouses, siblings, adult children, or close friends—and feel both limited in the pool of potential caregivers available to them, and fearful of losing another cherished relationship, even with someone who is harming them.

Elder abuse victims are often reluctant to take any action that would sever the relationship or disrupt the family by “making waves”—especially if exposing one family member’s misconduct would cause conflict among siblings or other relatives. The elder abuse victim may reason that enduring the mistreatment is a price worth paying to “maintain peace within the family,” however illusory that peace may actually be.

Understanding Why Older Adults Fall Victim to Elder Abuse Is a Key Part of Knowing How to Stop It

The next step is learning to recognize the warning signs—and knowing what to look for to determine whether someone you care about may be experiencing abuse or neglect.

NOTE: This Elder Abuse Awareness series is published in honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, recognized on June 15th each year to raise awareness about the abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults. If you suspect that a loved one is being abused, neglected, or exploited, do not wait for the situation to escalate. 

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Why Older Adults Are Vulnerable to Abuse – And Why It Often Goes Undetected  

David Lynch Family Trustee Seeks Clarification of Guardian’s Authority

The trustee of the David Lynch Family Trust is asking a judge to clarify the authority of a fiduciary appointed to represent the interests of the late filmmaker’s 13-year-old daughter.

Lynch died of cardiac arrest in January 2025 at age 78. The longtime smoker had emphysema. His work included “Twin Peaks” and “Blue Velvet.”

Lynch left much of his estate to his four children, including Lula Boginia Lynch. On May 26, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel Juarez named attorney Stefanie Cutler as Lula’s guardian ad litem. A GAL is a court-appointed individual, typically a lawyer, who investigates a case and advocates for the best interests of a minor or an incapacitated adult who cannot represent themselves.

But on Wednesday, estate trustee Sabrina Sutherland filed an application with Juarez asking that Cutler be given broader authority consistent with the original GAL petition. Sutherland was Lynch’s longtime producing partner.

“Amending the order nunc pro tunc is appropriate to correct an inadvertent limitation and to ensure the order fully reflects the scope of authority needed to protect the minor,” Sutherland says in a sworn declaration. “This amendment will provide the GAL with the necessary standing and authority to investigate, appear, and advocate on behalf of Lula in all proceedings and administrative matters relating to the subtrust, serve the minor’s best interests and promote judicial economy by avoiding piecemeal appointments.” 

Lynch was married four times. His other children were Jennifer, 57, Austin, 43, and Riley, 34. The four offspring are slated to receive tuition and medical expenses as trust beneficiaries. They will also be provided gifts for tuition and medical expenses through the trust. 

The next hearing in the case is scheduled Sept. 9. 

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David Lynch Family Trustee Seeks Clarification of Guardian’s Authority 

Nashville banker arrested, charged with financially exploiting two elderly customers

A four-month investigation led to Karl Richardson’s arrest on Tuesday afternoon.

The man allegedly stole more than $60,000 from one customer and more than $70,000 from another.

By Tony Garcia

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A 39-year-old man is facing serious charges after fraud detectives with the Metro Nashville Police Department tied him to years of financial theft involving two of his elderly customers.

The report from MNPD states that fraud unit detectives were contacted by Bank of America about one of its employees, Karl Richardson, in early February 2026, after the bank noticed some irregular withdrawals.

From July to November in 2025, Richardson had allegedly made 19 counter withdrawals from a 75-year-old woman’s account, often involving the woman herself requesting money but not receiving the full amount.

Detectives also found 11 instances where Richardson made unauthorized ATM withdrawals from the same woman’s account.

In all, he’s accused of stealing $68,400 from the woman over those four months in 2025.

During this investigation, the fraud unit was alerted to another elderly customer related to Richardson. This 86-year-old woman had reportedly been targeted by Richardson over the course of four years, according to Adult Protection Services.

Once fraud detectives dove into these allegations, they uncovered more than 100 unauthorized ATM, in-branch withdrawals, debit card use and Zelle transfers totaling nearly $71,000.

These transactions occurred from April 2022 to April 2026.

Richardson eventually left Bank of America in November 2025, but allegedly continued to make unauthorized withdrawals from the woman’s accounts. MNPD reported that he stole $4,500 from January to April of this year.

This woman even followed him to his new employer, Simmons Bank in Bellevue, where he convinced her to open a new account at his branch. MNPD reported that the woman’s son closed this account before any fraudulent activity could occur.

Detectives arrested Richardson at Simmons Bank on Tuesday. He was booked on two counts of financial exploitation of an elderly adult, two counts of computer fraud, two counts of felony theft, two counts of identity theft, and two counts of credit card fraud.

His bond is set at $370,000.

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Nashville banker arrested, charged with financially exploiting two elderly customers 

Boones Mill personal care attendant pleads guilty to stealing from Vietnam War Veteran

by Jazmine Otey

Court documents show that Melissa Diana Simmons, 50, left the elderly victim in soiled clothes, drained his bank account, and forged his veterans’ checks

(KSAT)

A personal care attendant in Boones Mill has pleaded guilty to stealing from a Vietnam War veteran she was hired to care for, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia.

Court documents show that Melissa Diana Simmons, 50, left the elderly victim in soiled clothes, drained his bank account, and forged his veterans’ checks. Simmons pleaded guilty to forgery of government checks after she and co-defendant James Patrick Brown were indicted in 2025.

Here’s a timeline of the events, based on court records:

• May 2022: Simmons met the victim when she was assigned as his in-home care provider through a contract between her employer and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
• December 2022: The victim began making significantly larger withdrawals from his bank account, often through checks made out to Simmons and her boyfriend, Brown.
• June/July 2023: After Simmons was fired from her job in June, she convinced the victim to move in with her and Brown. By July, bank staff grew suspicious as Simmons and Brown frequently brought the victim to the drive-through for increasingly large withdrawals, eventually totaling tens of thousands of dollars. Staff also noticed the veteran’s health was declining and said he appeared “hunched over, confused and fearful,” according to court records.
• Mid-August 2023: Simmons had the victim add her as a signatory on his bank account. Within a month, about $30,000 was withdrawn, officials said.
• Mid-September 2023: When Simmons tried to make another large withdrawal, bank staff asked her to come inside. There, staff noticed the victim had a burned nose from smoking while using an oxygen tank, was confused, and smelled of urine and feces. He reportedly could not remember when he last bathed, ate, or visited the VA Medical Center. Staff persuaded him to open a new account without Simmons, but as they questioned him privately, Simmons began banging on the office window and shouting until police arrived.
• Shortly after, Brown visited the bank with the victim, asking how to get VA benefits and Social Security checks deposited into the account. Brown also tried to have the victim withdraw between $60,000 and $70,000. At that point, the victim’s condition had worsened, and he seemed confused as to why he was withdrawing money.
• Following these incidents, Franklin County Adult Protective Services launched an investigation. A staff member found that the victim was suffering from dementia after conducting a mental status exam.
• Nov. 18, 2023: Simmons and Brown reported to Roanoke County Fire and Rescue that the victim was non-responsive. He was hospitalized with acute respiratory failure and critically low oxygen. Medical records showed methamphetamine in his system, though he had no history of drug use and could not travel on his own.
• January through April 2024: While the victim recovered in the hospital and later at a rehab center, Simmons received four of his VA benefits checks by mail, totaling nearly $8,000. The indictment claims she forged his signature and deposited the checks into his new account. Simmons and Brown then used his debit card for personal expenses, including thousands spent at a casino.
• Oct. 22, 2024: Simmons admitted to VA Office of Inspector General agents that she forged the checks and, along with Brown, spent the victim’s money while he was hospitalized.

The VA Office of Inspector General, with help from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, continues to investigate the case. At this time, information regarding a sentencing date has not been provided. 

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Boones Mill personal care attendant pleads guilty to stealing from Vietnam War Veteran  

Six Months in, Probate Reform Coalition Marks Progress in Protecting Elders From Financial Abuse

By Tanya Dennis

The National Probate Reform Coalition, a loose-knit national coalition of advocates, victims, and families dedicated to protecting elder rights, especially within the probate court system, was formed by the Post Newspaper Group (PNG) after more than a decade of reporting on the mistreatment of elders and the plunder of their estates.

In response, PNG Publisher Paul Cobb set in motion a series of monthly town halls to address the problem and propose workable solutions, designating it a “year of action.”

At six months, the coalition has attracted families, advocates, and experts across the nation whose strategies have proven effective in their respective states, and who are moving forward collectively with the mission of engaging judicial, legislative, and enforcement agencies to ensure elders are not exploited or abused.

“The issue of elder abuse is multi-layered”, says NPRC planning committee member Venus Gist.  “Elders are our most vulnerable population, next to children, and they are easily exploited by strangers, their own family members, and the judicial system designed to protect them.”

Since January, NPRC has, via monthly virtual meetings held on the first Thursday of each month, clearly defined the issues and formulated workable solutions that can be implemented nationwide.

“There are amazing laws on the books that protect elders and their assets,” said NPRC member Zakiya Jendayi. “The problem is they are ignored, and that lack of oversight has led to systemic abuse in the Probate Court system, not just in Alameda County, but nationwide.

“The scary part is the collusion and wall of silence NPRC has encountered when reaching out to the Judicial Council, legislators, and the State Bar for assistance.  It’s so obvious that one hand is washing the other, that they’re protecting each other, that it’s difficult to initiate any type of meaningful reform much less dialogue.”

Despite the cited obstacles, NPRC has made some promising inroads towards their mission.  NPRC has identified that nationwide the Attorneys General must be engaged and encouraged to implement oversight, protection and enforcement of the law; members find support from each other as they advocate for redress via “letters of compassion” sent to judges, nursing facilities and law enforcement agencies and members are instructed on their rights, how to take constructive action to protect those rights through access to resources that allow them to intelligently represent themselves in court.

Stacy Drake, a Texas member, says, “I’ve been looking for help for over 10 years with my situation, and I finally found it within the NPRC coalition.  God answered my prayers.”

Broadening its reach within Alameda County, NPRC has invited Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee to assist with outreach, education, and resolution.

“We hope to host an elder abuse/elder protection symposium annually, if not twice a year, to let our elders know that Alameda County and the City of Oakland are a safe place, a place where in their golden years they have no worries regarding exploitation and abuse,” said Cobb. “Society is defined by how the care for its children and elders.”

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Six Months in, Probate Reform Coalition Marks Progress in Protecting Elders From Financial Abuse 

Disability agencies push back against Department of Justice memo

By Ben Singson

Disability agencies are frightened and angered by a federal memo they say rolls back protections for disabled residents.

The Department of Justice issued a memo Thursday arguing states are not required to provide in-home or community care for their disabled residents. The memo, a legal opinion from the department's Office of Legal Counsel, goes back on what many legal scholars had considered settled.

In the memo, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Lanora Pettit argued states are not subject to an "integration mandate" making them provide non-institutional care. Pettit's memo questioned the results of the 1999 Supreme Court case Olmstead v. L.C., which had been interpreted for years to mean states are required to provide programs that integrate people with disabilities into their communities.

Pettit argued the case "held only that a state cannot institutionalize such patients without justification."

"What counts as adequate justification remains an open question," she said.

West-central Illinois disability agencies see the memo as a frightening move on the part of the federal government.

Brooklyn Knapp, executive director of Jacksonville Area Center for Independent Living, said the memo was unsurprising but still "disheartening" to hear from the government.

The center at 15 Permac Road provides a variety of services for hundreds of clients, Knapp said, including Social Security benefit access, personal assistants, accommodations for students, and support groups, among other things. Losing those programs would be "devastating" for JACIL clients, many of whom no longer would be able to live in their own homes if the programs went away, she said.

"All of these disability services feel like they're at threat with what's going on, so it's scary," Knapp said.

Ryan Dowd, executive director of Pathway Services Unlimited, mirrored Knapp's sentiments, saying it is a "concerning" position for the federal government to take. The nonprofit at 1905 W. Morton Ave. provides services to about 120 clients, 65 of whom live in group home settings, Dowd said.

Pathway's group homes are aimed at providing clients an unrestrictive setting in which to live, Dowd said. State-run institutions would provide the exact opposite environment, putting them in "a community prison," and should only be used as a last resort, he said. Should disabled people begin to be returned to institutions, Pathway and similar organizations would have to close, he said.

"I read a comment that this memo, should it come to light, would set us back 50 years in terms of advances made for people with disabilities," Dowd said. "I tend to agree with that."

Pushback from other disability advocacy groups was swift and critical. American Association for People with Disabilities said Thursday that the department's interpretation of Olmstead is incorrect but still will be used "to hurt disabled people, lock us away, end our autonomy over our lives and, in many cases, end our lives altogether."

"The (Department of Justice) just gave the White House and other federal entities a green light to take disabled people back to a time when the state could, at any time, strip us of our homes, families, autonomy and our lives," the association said.

Gov. JB Pritzker's administration has taken steps to keep Illinois' disability programs up and running.

The day before the Department of Justice issued its memo, Pritzker signed into law the creation of the Illinois Department of Disability Advocacy and Guardianship. The department, which will begin operating on July 1, 2027, aims to protect the rights of the state's disabled residents by providing legal counsel and serving as a guardian of last resort, among other things.

"By establishing the Department of Disability Advocacy and Guardianship, we are making it crystal clear that disability rights are a priority in Illinois," Pritzker said. "I am proud to establish this agency, and I will continue to fight hard to empower people with disabilities and their families all across our state."

Neither Knapp nor Dowd are concerned about Illinois recalling its disability programs, they said. Both cited the Pritzker administration in their reasoning, with Dowd saying the current state government, the Jacksonville area and Illinois as a whole have been friendly toward disabled residents. There also are "checks and balances" in place to prevent those programs from going away, he said.

"I'm not terribly worried that this will come to fruition," Dowd said.

Knapp said she has faith in Pritzker's administration to maintain Illinois' current services for disabled people and she is more worried about such programs being rescinded at the federal level.

"We have a governor that believes in providing these services to his constituents," she said. "That's been my saving grace right now." 

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Disability agencies push back against Department of Justice memo 

Elderly abuse cases rising in nursing homes

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Elderly abuse cases rising in nursing homes 

Rep. Greene supports guardianship reform package to protect vulnerable Michiganders from abuse, exploitation, and neglect

State Rep. Jaime Greene today voted to strengthen oversight, licensing, training, and accountability for professional guardians and conservators in Michigan.  

“When the court gives one person authority over another person’s life, that power must come with accountability,” said Greene (R-Richmond). “A guardian or conservator can make decisions about where someone lives, what medical care they receive, how their money is handled, and whether they are able to maintain basic personal independence. That is too much power to hand over without clear standards, proper vetting, and real oversight.” 

The bill package, made up of House Bills 4727, 4728, 4729, and 4959, creates a licensing structure for professional guardians and conservators, requires background checks, establishes education and continuing training requirements, requires professional liability insurance, and creates a public list of licensed professional guardians and conservators. It also makes clear that courts should look first to family members, trusted nominees, patient advocates, or other suitable individuals before appointing a professional guardian or conservator.  

“This is not about attacking families who step up to care for loved ones,” Greene said. “This is about making sure that people who serve as professional guardians and conservators meet a basic standard of trust, training, and transparency.”  

Across Michigan, vulnerable adults have been financially exploited by people entrusted with their care. In Mason County, a Scottville woman was convicted on multiple counts of embezzlement from vulnerable adults and caregiver commingling of funds after taking advantage of individuals who depended on her. Cases like this demonstrate why Michigan must be serious about protecting people who may not be able to protect themselves. 

The Michigan Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force has also identified long standing concerns in the guardianship system, including inconsistent practices across the state, limited safeguards, unnecessary or overly restrictive guardianships, and lack of accountability when individuals lose control over major life decisions. Disability Rights Michigan has reported receiving thousands of calls from people with disabilities seeking help, including individuals reporting abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation by guardians. 

“Some of the people impacted by guardianship are seniors with dementia,” Greene said. “Some are adults with developmental disabilities. Some are people recovering from illness or injury. Some are simply in the middle. They are not fully independent, but they are not helpless either. Those are exactly the people who can be overlooked by the system. These bills say their dignity still matters. Their property still matters. Their voices still matter. Their safety still matters.”

 Greene said she will continue working to ensure the legislation protects vulnerable people while also making sure courts, especially in rural communities, have access to qualified guardians when no family member or trusted individual is available.  

“We need to raise the standard without creating a shortage of good people willing to serve,” Greene said. “The goal is simple: remove bad actors, protect vulnerable people, and make sure those who truly need help can still receive it.”

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Rep. Greene supports guardianship reform package to protect vulnerable Michiganders from abuse, exploitation, and neglect