Wendy Williams “Not In Agreement” With Court Appointed Financial Guardian; Wells Fargo Behind Leaks, Lawyer Says

by Dominic Patten

Wendy Williams has scored a partial victory in trying to gain access to her bank accounts, but the former daytime talk queen still isn’t able to sign her own checks – and that’s not cool with her.

“Please be advised that Wendy is not in agreement with the appointment of a financial guardian by the court,” Williams lawyer LaShawn Thomas said today of a New York Supreme Court judge deciding on May 19 to put a as yet unnamed guardian in charge of her cash until at least July. “Wendy has been very clear that she does not want a financial guardian to tell her what she can and cannot do with her money,” the Miami-based attorney added.

Off the air due to Graves disease and other health issues, Williams has been in battle for most of this year with Wells Fargo over being denied entry her likely not insignificant accounts. In a vide posted online back in March where she accused her ex-manager Bernie Young of taking $100,000 out of her accounts to get a guardianship put in place, Williams adopted her trademark blunt style: “I want my money, this is not fair.” – as you can see below:

In the still sealed case, the multinational financial services company essentially froze Williams’ accounts after concerns about the host being of “unsound mind” were raised by a former advisor. “Wells Fargo’s priority is the financial well-being of Ms. Williams and the preservation of her privacy,” the bank said in a statement back in March, when a temporary guardian was appointed. “As we have expressed to the Court, Wells Fargo is open to working with Ms. Williams’ counsel to release funds directly to her creditors for bills historically and regularly paid from her accounts.”

Today, Wells Fargo had “no comment” on the new guardianship, which has basically removed them from any operational role in the dispute.

However, Williams’ lawyer had a lot more to say on the matter, including pointing a finger at the bank.

“Wendy feels that she is capable of hiring her own financial advisors who work for and report to her and not to the court,” Thomas asserted. “We believe that this story has been put forth in an attempt to lessen the public outcry and regulatory scrutiny mounting around Wells Fargo due to their actions.”

Back for a 13th season, The Wendy Williams Show started bringing guest hosts on-board in January for the absent Williams. In late February, Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury, the producer-distributor behind The Wendy Williams Show officially turned the lights off and unveiled a new syndicated show fronted by The View co-host Sherri Shepherd. In a recent phone interview with GMA, Williams insisted she is feeling “very well” and plans to return to the small screen soon-ish “to do my thing.”

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Wendy Williams “Not In Agreement” With Court Appointed Financial Guardian; Wells Fargo Behind Leaks, Lawyer Says

Wendy Williams is Closer to Gaining Access to Her Funds From Wells Fargo Bank

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

(Image: Associated Press/Invision/Omar Vega)

Former talk show Wendy Williams‘ battle with Wells Fargo to unfreeze and grant her access to her funds may soon be over. A judge in New York has appointed a financial guardian to oversee her finances, The U.S. Sun reports.

Williams may have access to her money as early as this summer, according to a close source. She now has a guardian who will decide how to handle financial circumstances going forward. A source explained, “The guardianship process is complete, which means the court [officially] appointed a financial guardian. Now it’s up to the guardian, Wendy, and the court as to how she will be accessing her money.”

For the first time since she went down with health issues, Williams will have a say in how her finances are used. Wells Fargo is no longer involved in the court proceedings and will be acting at the recommendation of the newly appointed guardian and the 57-year-old herself.

Williams has had a temporary guardian since March. A source has also told The Sun: “The court can eventually decide to give Wendy back full control over her accounts and end the guardianship—but that is up to the court.”

Until then, she still has “a voice and she still has a say” in terms of her finances, and while “she doesn’t have 100 percent control right now, that could all change soon depending on what the court decides.”

Less than two weeks ago, Williams claimed to only have two dollars to her name after having her bank accounts frozen.

In February, Williams filed a legal letter saying Wells Fargo has “several million dollars” belonging to her in its possession, as noted by People. The bank claimed the assets were frozen because “[Williams] is the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.”

Williams was talk show royalty until she suffered an array of health issues, causing her to miss a swath of shows. Then in February, according to People, the decision to end The Wendy Williams Show was made, with producers announcing a daytime series hosted by Sherri Shepherd, Williams’s former guest host, taking its place.

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Wendy Williams is Closer to Gaining Access to Her Funds From Wells Fargo Bank

Port Ludlow financial guardian pleads guilty to defrauding clients

A Port Ludlow man who is accused of stealing as much as $280,000 from clients he served as a financial guardian pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Friday to Social Security fraud.

Wayne Jerome Houston, 61, owned Cross Point Services LLC, a guardianship organization for disabled and vulnerable adults, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. 

As part of his business managing the financial affairs of 15-20 clients a month, Houston  had access to the clients’ bank accounts so he could pay rent, utilities and other bills for them. Beginning in 2010, Houston began writing checks from his client's accounts to himself, to Cross Point Services, or to cash, and he used ATMs to withdraw money from client accounts for his own expenses, according to Moran's office.

He continued withdrawing money through 2018. The amount stolen is still under investigation, the office said, but it is estimated between $150,000 and $280,941.   

“This defendant stole from those he was supposed to protect at least 240 separate times,” Moran said in the press release. “He betrayed the clients who needed his help, as well as the Kitsap County Superior Court judges who appointed him, believing he could be trusted to make sure disabled and vulnerable adults were protected.”

Houston targeted clients who had significant income so that the theft was less likely to be detected, the press release said. 

Social Security benefits were paid into the accounts of at least 13 clients who required a representative payee to manage their benefits. Approximately $83,000 of what Houston is accused of stealing was Social Security Administration benefit funds, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.  

The charges are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend no more than 40 months in prison. The judge, Ronald Leighton, is not limited by the recommendation, however, and Houston's sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, according to the press release.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.  

Houston is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17. 

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Port Ludlow financial guardian pleads guilty to defrauding clients