By Javier Rodriguez
Federal prosecutors signaled in today's court filing that the corruption probe into suspended 36th District Judge Andrea Bradley‑Baskin is far from over and could soon grow larger, with the possibility of new charges on the horizon. The filing comes on top of a Jan. 30 indictment accusing Bradley‑Baskin and three Detroit residents of conspiring to siphon money and property from vulnerable wards in Wayne County's probate system. The case has reignited scrutiny of how guardians handle estates for people who are elderly, incapacitated or otherwise unable to manage their own affairs.
According to reporting by The Detroit News, prosecutors asked the court for more time to work through a growing pile of discovery and warned that additional defendants or criminal counts could surface as the investigation continues. The outlet reviewed filings and public records that it says add detail to an alleged pattern of asset‑stripping involving wards who were elderly, mentally incapacitated or already deceased. If prosecutors pursue a superseding indictment, it would be unsealed and added to the public docket once filed.
What prosecutors allege
A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan says an indictment unsealed Jan. 30 charged Bradley‑Baskin, her father Avery Bradley, Nancy Williams and Dwight Rashad with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The filing also includes multiple money‑laundering counts and a false‑statement charge against Bradley‑Baskin. Prosecutors say Williams’ firm, Guardian & Associates, was appointed fiduciary in more than 1,000 probate cases and that funds intended for wards were diverted to the defendants. "This state judge and her cronies allegedly abused that high honor for personal gain by preying on the needy protected by the court," U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon said in the release.
What reporters found
Investigative work by The Detroit News and court records outline a series of transactions in which homes and bank accounts belonging to wards were allegedly sold or drained, with the proceeds routed to associates. Prosecutors, as cited by the outlet, point to specific examples: about $70,000 allegedly pulled to buy a stake in a bar, withdrawals used to lease a Brush Park townhouse valued at roughly $900,000, and tens of thousands of dollars for a two‑year lease on a luxury SUV. The government also highlights property transfers and rental payments tied to a co‑defendant’s group‑home business that, prosecutors allege, billed for residents who never actually lived there.
Court action and next steps
Chief 36th District Judge William McConico approved an administrative removal of Bradley‑Baskin from her docket in an effort to preserve public confidence while the federal case plays out, according to CBS Detroit. In the March 10 filing, prosecutors told the court the probe remains active and that additional charges could be necessary. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has also stressed that an indictment is an accusation, not proof of guilt. Should a superseding indictment be filed, it would be unsealed and the defendants would be arraigned on the expanded set of charges.
Legal implications
The federal counts listed in the indictment, including conspiracy to
commit wire fraud, money‑laundering allegations and an alleged false
statement to investigators, carry significant potential penalties if
they result in convictions. They can also trigger state disciplinary
proceedings that affect a judge’s law license and ability to remain on
the bench. At the same time, families of alleged victims may pursue
civil remedies while FBI and IRS criminal investigators continue to
develop the case. Authorities have asked anyone with information about
wards handled by Guardian & Associates or Tri‑State Guardian
Services to contact investigators as the probe moves forward.
Taken together, the January indictment and the March 10 filing outline
what federal officials characterize as a years‑long scheme. The next big
public marker would be any superseding indictment, followed by fresh
arraignments that could pull even more details about the alleged
operation into open court.
Full Article & Source:
Feds Turn Up Heat On Detroit Judge As Guardianship Scandal Widens
See Also:
Feds: Stealing from dead gave judge a luxe life in auto exec's home
Detroit News: Detroit Judge Teamed With 2 Criminals to Help Buy And Sell Homes of the Vulnerable
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