Lawton Woman Charged with Embezzling $50,000 from Vulnerable Adult Family Member

February 06, 2025

LANSING – Yesterday, Barbara Cavner, 66, of Lawton, was arraigned before Magistrate James Becker of the 7th District Court in Paw Paw for embezzling approximately $50,000 from her aunt, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Cavner is charged with one count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult-$20,000 or more but less than $50,000, a felony punishable by up to 10 years’ incarceration and/or a fine of $15,000 or three times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater.

In March 2021, Cavner’s aunt was admitted to an assisted care facility in Lawton, where she remained until August 2023 before transferring to another facility in the same town with Cavner acting as her aunt’s attorney-in-fact, or durable power of attorney. Between March 2021 and October 2024, Cavner allegedly used large sums of her aunt’s money for her own needs. It is alleged that Cavner withdrew cash, made point-of-sale purchases, and wrote checks to herself.

“Too often, we see the assets of vulnerable adults unlawfully siphoned away when they move into a residential care setting,” said Nessel. “We will continue to hold people who take advantage of older adults accountable.”

Cavner is scheduled to appear for a Probable Cause Conference on February 12, 2025, and a Preliminary Examination on February 18, 2025. She was released on a personal recognizance bond. 

The Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division (HCFD) handled this case for the Department. The HCFD is the federally certified Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for Michigan, and it receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $5,703,460.00 for the fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25% percent, totaling $1,901,152.00, is funded by the State of Michigan.

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Please note: For all criminal proceedings, a criminal charge is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Department does not provide booking photos.

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Lawton Woman Charged with Embezzling $50,000 from Vulnerable Adult Family Member