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.
