Man charged with taking house, Mustang, cash from great aunt in Gladwin

A 54-year-old Saginaw man allegedly transferred his great-aunt's Gladwin house and vintage Mustang to himself along with reportedly embezzling more than $200,000 from the 90-year-old woman.

Ricky Bradford Willson, who was his great-aunt's durable power of attorney for 18 months, remains out of jail on a $40,000 personal recognizance bond pending an upcoming hearing in Genesee County 7th Circuit Court.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is prosecuting the case, said instead of Willson looking out for his aunt, he transferred $120,000 in cash from his aunt's bank account into his, signed a quit claim deed transferring her house in Gladwin to himself, and transferred the title of her classic 1967 Ford Mustang convertible to himself. This earned Willson four felony charges.

Willson is charged with embezzlement of $100,000 or more (for the $120,000 cash transfer), if found guilty he faces 20 years and/or a fine up to $50,000 or three times the amount embezzled (whichever is greater); embezzlement of $100,000 or more (for the property transfer), if found guilty he faces; 20 years and/or a fine up to $50,000 or three times the amount embezzled (whichever is greater); intent to pass false title (vehicle transfer) if found guilty he faces 10 years and/or $5,000 fine; embezzlement by an agent or trustee of $1,000 or more and less than $20,000 (vehicle transfer) if found guilty he faces five years and/or $10,000 or three times the amount embezzled (whichever is greater).

The alleged incidents occurred in November 2015.

Judge Christopher Odette of the 67th District Court, bound Willson over to the court for trial. This came one day after Nessel joined forces with the Michigan Supreme Court, members of the legislative and executive branches of government and advocacy groups to announce Michigan's Elder Abuse Task Force.

"This is a classic example of financial elder abuse: a trusted relative who took advantage of his aunt," Nessel said via a press release. "He literally took everything from her: her car, her house and her savings account. However, his actions were discovered because she knew things were amiss. The locks had been changed on her house in Gladwin, her classic Mustang convertible was missing, and her savings account was gone.

"She spoke up," Nessel said.

However, Nessel said that not every elderly person has the capacity to speak up when things go awry. Which is why the Elder Abuse Task Force was established -- to increase awareness of elder abuse and to find and implement the best practices across the state so that the elderly are protected.

Willson's case is expected to be heard by 7th Circuit Court Judge Richard B. Yuille, although no court date has been set.

Michigan residents can anonymously report any signs or concerns about elder abuse to the Michigan Department of Attorney General by calling 800-24-ABUSE 800-242-2873 or online at mi.gov/elderabuse.

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Man charged with taking house, Mustang, cash from great aunt in Gladwin