Saginaw Woman Spends $1.1 M After Being Appointed Mother’s Guardian
A Michigan woman is accused of spending over a million dollars of her mother's money after she was appointed to be her guardian due to a series of strokes.
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Valda Cork is accused of recklessly spending her mother's money after being appointed the woman's guardian and conservator in 2018. Her mother was no longer able to care for herself or handle her finances.
Spending Her Mother's Money
The charges were made against the 59-year-old Saginaw woman by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Officials say Cork spent the sum of about $1.1 million over a 12-month period.
Among Cork's purchases was a condo in Pompano Beach, Florida for $664,872. The AG's office says Cork purchased the condo in her mother's name with the intention of inheriting it after she died.
Cork is also accused of spending $228,817 on purchases that were not reported to probate court.
Attorney General Speaks Out
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says anyone who takes advantage of someone in their care will be held accountable.
“A person who takes advantage of a vulnerable person is deplorable,” Nessel said. “A person who commits these types of crimes will be prosecuted and held accountable.”
Woman Faces Multiple Charges, Lengthy Sentence
According to Detroit's WDIV-TV, Cork was arraigned in 70th District Court on two cunts of embezzlement over $100,000 from a vulnerable adult and two tax charges for failure to file/false return/payment.
Each of the embezzlement charges could carry 20-year penalties while the tax charges are each five-year offenses.