Macomb County Woman Pleads No Contest to 18 Felony Counts for Stealing from Vulnerable Adults

July 12, 2024

LANSING – Yesterday, Lisa Ludy, 54, of Macomb, pled no contest, as charged, to 18 felony counts for stealing from two vulnerable adults for whom she was appointed guardian and conservator, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. With her plea, Ludy agreed to pay $187,827.96 in restitution to her victims. 

Ludy pled no contest to the following charges:

• Two counts of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, punishable by 20 years and/or $100,000; 
• One count of Embezzlement - $50,000 to $100,000, a 15-year felony;
• One count of Embezzlement - $20,000 to $50,0000, a 10-year felony; 
• Two counts of Embezzlement - $1,000 to $20,000, 5-year felonies;  
• One count of Embezzlement From a Vulnerable Adult - $1,000 or More But Less Than $20,000, punishable by 5 years and/or $10,000;  
• Four counts of Failure to File Tax Return, 5-year felonies;  
• Six counts of Financial Transaction Device-Stealing/Retaining Without Consent, punishable by 4 years and/or $5,000; and
• One count of Witness-Bribing/Intimidating/Interfering, punishable by 4 years and/or $5,000.

In 2016, Ludy petitioned to have her company, Community Guardian Care, Inc., appointed as a guardian and conservator for one of two victims. Upon the appointment as guardian and conservator, Ludy used her position and company to steal over $100,000 from the victim, which she used to pay personal bills and funnel money to her family’s companies, Career Health Studies, Career Health Training Corporation, and Applewood Adult Foster Care Home. Ludy also intentionally concealed the money she took from the victim and failed to file income taxes from 2016 through 2019.  

After Ludy was initially charged in 2022, a second victim reported that Ludy would not return his money. Ludy faced additional charges for stealing his Social Security income from his bank account by using his debit card to make numerous purchases and withdrawals from the account after she had already been removed as the victim’s guardian. Ludy also interfered with the victim and attempted to prevent and/or obstruct him from pressing charges and testifying in court against her.  

As a condition of the plea agreement, Ludy agreed to pay total restitution of $187,827.96 to the victims. Additionally, Ludy paid $7,000 in restitution at the plea to the victims. If Ludy pays an additional $10,000 in restitution by her sentencing date, the People agreed that she can be sentenced to a minimum sentence of 36 months’ incarceration concurrently on all charges. However, if she fails to pay the $10,000 in restitution by the sentencing date, Ludy agreed to be sentenced on all counts within the sentencing guidelines. 

“This plea secures meaningful restitution and justice for the vulnerable adults who were betrayed and exploited by the very person appointed to protect them,” Nessel said. “My department will continue to pursue accountability for court-appointed guardians and conservators who take advantage of the trust placed in them, and any who seek to enrich themselves by robbing our most vulnerable residents.” 

Ludy is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 8, 2025, before Judge Julie Gatti in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court in Macomb County.

Source:
Macomb County Woman Pleads No Contest to 18 Felony Counts for Stealing from Vulnerable Adults