Detroit’s legal community is reeling after federal authorities charged a sitting judge, a prominent attorney, and two associates in a scheme accused of diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars from incapacitated adults under court supervision.
Prosecutors describe the alleged conduct as a profound violation of public trust, targeting individuals the legal system is meant to protect.
Michigan’s 36th District Court Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin, 46, her father and attorney Avery Bradley, 72, Nancy Williams, 59, and Dwight Rashad, 69, all Detroit residents, were indicted on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Bradley-Baskin faces an additional count of making a false statement to federal agents, while Bradley, Bradley-Baskin, and Rashad are also charged with multiple counts of money laundering.
Investigators say Williams owned Guardian and Associates, a fiduciary agency appointed by the Wayne County Probate Court to manage the affairs of adults legally deemed unable to care for themselves.
According to MLive, Bradley and Bradley-Baskin ran a law firm that frequently represented Guardian and Associates in probate cases. Rashad managed multiple group homes and residential facilities for elderly individuals, including wards.
According to the indictment, Bradley-Baskin allegedly misused a ward’s funds to purchase a $70,000 stake in a local bar and financed a two-year lease on a Ford Expedition from another ward’s estate.
Bradley, Williams, and Rashad are accused of diverting $203,000 from a legal settlement intended for a ward, with none of the money benefiting the individual, according to CBS News.
U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon called the scheme a “grievous abuse of our public trust,” emphasizing that those in positions of authority must act responsibly.
“We respect the authority that covers a black robe. This state judge and her cronies allegedly abused that high honor for personal gain by preying on the needy protected by the court,” Gorgon said in a statement.
Special Agent Jennifer Runyan of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office highlighted the severity of the allegations, stating, “Regardless of a person’s position in society, no one is above the law. If you prey on the vulnerable, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
The accused were arraigned in federal court, with Bradley-Baskin immediately removed from her docket to preserve confidence in the judiciary.
Chief Judge William McConico stressed that administrative removal does not affect the presumption of innocence but ensures transparency while legal proceedings continue.
Authorities say the investigation involved coordinated efforts by the FBI, the IRS Criminal Investigation Detroit Field Office, and the Wayne County Probate Court.
Prosecutors urge anyone with information related to Guardian & Associates or Tri-State Guardian Services to come forward to help identify all potential victims.
Experts say the case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in the guardianship system and the importance of oversight.
Prosecutors emphasize that fiduciaries entrusted with the care of incapacitated adults must prioritize their wards’ interests over personal gain.
This indictment signals a commitment by federal authorities to hold individuals accountable when that trust is exploited.
Bradley-Baskin has served on Detroit’s 36th District Court since 2023, giving her a relatively short tenure on the bench.
As the legal process unfolds, her conduct—and the safeguards meant to protect vulnerable populations—have come under increasing scrutiny, raising broader questions about accountability within the local justice system.
In that context, Resist the Mainstream confirmed that while Bradley-Baskin’s position is officially nonpartisan, her campaign received endorsements and support from groups typically aligned with Democratic and progressive causes, offering insight into her political leanings.
