Professional guardian Traci Hudson's trial on 2019 charges delayed again

Delays are continuing in the trial of a former professional guardian who is accused of exploiting elderly people under her care. Traci Hudson was back in a Pinellas County courtroom Tuesday, which was originally supposed to be the start date for what was supposed to be the start of her criminal trial. Hudson was originally arrested in November 2019 on charges of exploitation of an elderly adult. But her trial was delayed because Hudson ended up in the hospital after what police described as a possible suicide attempt. Investigators alleged Hudson took more than a half-million dollars from an elderly man under her care…using the money to buy a nearly 5,000-square-foot home, jewelry, and Bucs tickets. In the 1,265 days since her arrest, she’s had 29 court hearings, including a court date she missed last month when Hudson was supposed to turn herself in on additional felony charges. The day of that hearing, Hudson was found unresponsive in a hotel room and spent the next two weeks in the hospital. According to a police report, her daughter told officers Hudson was upset over the prospect of spending 15 years in prison.

By: Adam Walser

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Delays are continuing in the trial of a former professional guardian who is accused of exploiting elderly people under her care.

Traci Hudson was back in a Pinellas County courtroom Tuesday, which was originally supposed to be the start date for what was supposed to be the start of her criminal trial.

Hudson was originally arrested in November 2019 on charges of exploitation of an elderly adult. But her trial was delayed because Hudson ended up in the hospital after what police described as a possible suicide attempt.

Investigators alleged Hudson took more than a half-million dollars from an elderly man under her care…using the money to buy a nearly 5,000-square-foot home, jewelry, and Bucs tickets.

In the 1,265 days since her arrest, she’s had 29 court hearings, including a court date she missed last month when Hudson was supposed to turn herself in on additional felony charges.

The day of that hearing, Hudson was found unresponsive in a hotel room and spent the next two weeks in the hospital. According to a police report, her daughter told officers Hudson was upset over the prospect of spending 15 years in prison.

Hudson has been charged with a total of 20 felony counts, including exploitation, grand theft, and perjury.

The Pinellas County Inspector General released a scathing 77-page report outlining problems with dozens of Hudson’s guardianship cases late last year. Hudson’s charges could land her a 135-year prison sentence. Her attorney is hoping to resolve the case before trial.

“We are still engaging in some negotiations. We are hoping the court’s ok with it,” said attorney Richard McKyton. “It will push us off about two months. That will be our last attempt to try to resolve this matter."

Last week, following her release from the hospital, Hudson turned herself in on two new charges involving the alleged exploitation of two other elderly people under her care. At the time she was booked, new conditions were placed on her bond.

“She’s also under house arrest and she’s got a GPS monitor,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Renee Bauer.

Until her case goes to trial, Hudson will only be allowed to leave her home to meet with her attorney, attend court dates or seek medical care. Her next pretrial hearing is scheduled for July 11^th.

Full Article & Source:
Professional guardian Traci Hudson's trial on 2019 charges delayed again

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Police called after Hudson missed court

By: Adam Walser

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — The I-Team has learned troubling new developments in the case of a former professional guardian who is scheduled to stand trial on multiple felony charges early next month.

The Pinellas County State’s Attorney’s Office asked the judge to issue an arrest warrant for former professional guardian Traci Hudson after she failed to show up for a court hearing last week. That hearing involved two new felony charges. But her attorney said there was a good reason she wasn’t in court.

For more than three years, Traci Hudson has been required to attend court hearings after being charged with exploitation, theft, and perjury involving elderly victims under her care.

Her cases were reviewed by the Pinellas County Inspector General’s Office, which produced a scathing 77-page report outlining allegations Hudson abused and exploited court-appointed wards under her care.

But last Tuesday, she failed to show up for court to face two new charges filed by prosecutors last week of exploitation of an elderly adult.

“Defense counsel and I had an agreement that he was going to bring his client in on April 11^th, that same day, to turn herself in on those two new charges,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Renee Bauer.

On the floor, unresponsive

A Pinellas Park Police report said that on April 11^th at 2:46 pm, Hudson’s daughter grew concerned about the missed court appearance and asked for a welfare check at a Marriott Hotel, which was Hudson’s last known location. Hudson was found “on the floor unresponsive.”

WFTS

Exterior shot of the Marriott hotel in Pinellas Park, Florida.

Her daughter told police her mother was facing 15 years in prison for exploitation charges.

According to the report, “there was a substantial likelihood that Hudson attempted to commit suicide” and that Hudson met Baker Act criteria and was hospitalized.

The Baker Act, also called “The Florida Mental Health Act,” is a way to provide individuals with emergency services and temporary detention for up to 72 hours for mental health examination if someone is believed to be a danger to themselves or others.

“She’s done nothing wrong other than have an emergency medical situation, which happens every day,” said attorney Richard McKyton, who represents Hudson in her criminal cases.

McKyton provided records to the judge showing that Hudson is still hospitalized.

The prosecutor asked the judge to have Hudson arrested after she is released from the hospital.

“What we have here and what happened in that hotel room on April 11^th, the state’s position is, it shows her desire to avoid prosecution,” Bauer said.

GPS monitoring upon discharge from the hospital

WFTS

Traci Hudson appears in court in 2021.

The judge modified the condition of Hudson’s bond when she’s released from the hospital.

“She’ll be outfitted with a GPS and she’s to remain at home, come to court and go to her lawyer’s office, and that’s it. No more hotel rooms for Ms. Hudson,” said Judge Susan St. James.

With the new counts, Hudson faces 20 felony charges which could result in a sentence of up to 135 years if she is convicted on all counts. Hudson has another court hearing scheduled for April 24^th.

The judge said she has to attend the hearing unless she’s still in the hospital.

Hudson’s trial is scheduled to begin May 2^nd.

If you have a story you’d like the I-Team to investigate, email at adam@abcactionnews.com

Full Article & Source:
Embattled former professional guardian Traci Hudson found ’unresponsive’ at hotel

See Also:
Former professional guardian abandoned wards' mail, committed crimes: Inspector General report

Former guardian allegedly stole guns, forged appraisal

Former guardian charged with pillaging elderly man's estate refuses to sign final accounting

Price of Protection: Woman loses Seffner home after father's guardian sues her for libel

Guardianship ends in isolation from family, alleged neglect and death from COVID-19

77-page guardianship investigation exposes lack of oversight in Florida's system

New charges, new investigation involving embattled former professional guardians

Hotel owner placed in guardianship by St. Pete Beach realtor dies from COVID-19

Realtor seeks court-ordered guardianship to take away rights of elderly beach hotel owner

AARP Florida makes guardianship reform a top priority

Broken window results in more than $45K fine under former professional guardian's care

 

 

Former guardian charged with pillaging elderly man's estate refuses to sign final accounting

Family seeks $1.8 million dollars in lawsuit

 

More than a year after professional guardian Traci Hudson was arrested on charges she exploited an elderly man, her alleged victim’s family can’t close out his estate.

 

By: Adam Walser

CLEARWATER, FL — More than a year after professional guardian Traci Hudson was arrested on charges she exploited an elderly man, her alleged victim’s family can’t close out his estate because they say Hudson failed to turn over financial documents, specifically a signed final accounting of his estate.

On November 14^th, 2019, professional guardian Traci Hudson was booked into the Pinellas County Jail, accused of exploiting 93-year-old Maurice Myers, for whom she served as power of attorney.

Investigators say Hudson paid herself $1,600 a day from Myer’s bank account, spending more than half-a-million dollars of his money on things like jewelry, Tampa Bay Bucs tickets, and a 4,000 square foot Riverview home.

“There’s no documentation as to how any of the monies were spent or not spent,” attorney Charles Tillman, Jr. said during a Wednesday court hearing.

Tillman represents the personal representative for the Myers estate, alleging in a civil lawsuit that Hudson “breached her fiduciary duty” to Myers.

He asked Pinellas County Probate Judge Pam Campbell during a hearing in the estate case to require Hudson to produce documents that would allow him to close-out Myers’ estate.

“The final accounting filed is not verified. It’s not signed by Traci and the statute says we’re entitled to that,” Tillman said.

Hudson asserts her 5^th Amendment right against self-incrimination

“She was charged in criminal court related to prior dealings with Mr. Myers, so it certainly wouldn’t be appropriate for her to have documentation about Mr. Myers, and she certainly does not,” said Hudson’s criminal attorney Richard McKyton, who now also represents Hudson in the civil lawsuit and in her guardianship and estate cases.

The prior attorneys in those probated cases resigned after Hudson’s arrest.

Myers’ estate received an accounting from September 2019 prior to Hudson’s arrest, but his heirs’ attorney says there is a gap between that accounting and when Hudson’s previous attorney turned over financial records in January 2020.

McKyton wrote in a court pleadings Hudson would not turn over certain requested documents because she is asserting her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

He says the Deeb Law Firm, which prepared the power of attorney agreement Hudson used to gain control of Myers’ assets, has Myers’ financial information.

“We need something verified”

“None of us have those records. We invited them to come today and they declined,” said Tillman.

“We need something verified and Mrs. Hudson and Deeb Elder Law need to figure that all out,” said Judge Campbell.

McKyton said the Deeb Law Firm previously turned over financial documents and the money remaining in Myers’ bank account.

“She can’t swear to what they did on either occasion. She would be committing perjury,” McKyton said.

“Mrs. Hudson can get with her lawyer who was Deeb Elder Law at the time,” Judge Campbell said. “They were her lawyer at the time. She’s certainly able to talk to them to confirm what she did or didn’t do with Deeb Elder Law.”

Judge Campbell ordered Hudson and her former attorneys to produce a signed final accounting within 10 days.

Family seeks more than $1.8 million

In the meantime, Myers’ family has requested Hudson’s $35,000 bond from her insurance company and is suing Hudson for treble damages, or $1.8 million dollars.

Court records show prosecutors are continuing to gather evidence in Hudson’s criminal case, which has been delayed several times.

A hearing in that case is set for next month.

If you have a story you’d like the I-Team to investigate, email us at adam@abcactionnews.com

Full Article & Source:

Former guardian charged with pillaging elderly man's estate refuses to sign final accounting