Macomb Twp. womans pleads to stealing $90,000 from father in nursing home
Prosecutors: former fence company operator used funds to pay prior fraud victims
By Jameson Cook
A 44-year-old Macomb Township woman pilfered over $90,000 from her father in a nursing home to pay off tens of thousands of dollars in restitution to victims of her prior scams via a fence company she operated.
Laura Marie Dietz, 44, entered a no contest plea to the charge Tof embezzlement between $50,000 and $100,000 on Tuesday in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens in an agreement with Judge Jennifer Faunce that she will be sentenced Aug. 4 to 18 months in prison.
Dietz also will be required to pay $93,500 to her father, Robert Fischer, from whom she stole nearly $19,000 by cashing his Social Security checks and not making payments to his Shelby Township nursing home, and about $70,000 from the proceeds from the sale of his home, from September 2023 to October 2024, according to Assistant Macomb Prosecutor Danielle Strace, head of the senior crime unit.
The thefts were discovered after Macomb Probate Court Judge Sara Schimke removed Dietz from the guardianship for her father in October 2024 and replaced her with Guardian Care Inc., according to court records.
Dietz had claimed that her father was residing with her and paying his expenses when in fact he was living in the nursing home, Strace said. But Guardian Care discovered otherwise.
“The defendant was paying off victims from other fraud cases,” Strace told Faunce.
Dietz, who operated Dietz Fence Co., was initially charged in January 2023 for bilking several Macomb County residents out of several thousand dollars each in 2022 for taking money upfront to install a fence but failed to perform the work or refund the money, acts that earned her a “Hall of Shame” designation by TV news reporter Rob Wolchek. For those transgressions, Dietz repaid about $35,000 to seven victims by last September after pleading no contest in December 2023 to seven counts of larceny by conversion.
Laura Marie Dietz interacts with her attorney, Larry Smith, on Tuesday in Macomb County Circuti Court in Mount Clemens.
But after her convictions, she continued to bilk customers and was charged with several new cases. Last May, she pleaded no contest to two counts of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000 for incidents in St. Clair Shores and Shelby Township for which she will pay $3,750 and $4,000. She also pleaded no contest to writing a non-sufficient funds check for over $500 in the New Baltimore area under the agreement she will be sentenced Aug. 4 to one year in prison and repay nearly $12,000 to a Chesterfield Township fence company, court records say. An additional false-pretenses charge and a charge of fraudulently obtaining a signature will be dismissed at the sentencing, under the deal.
She will serve the sentence simultaneously with the embezzlement term, but the multiple offenses could reduce her ability to gain parole after she serves the 18 months.
She also will receive a sentence for violating probation of the prior convictions that also will be serve simultaneously.
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Macomb Twp. womans pleads to stealing $90,000 from father in nursing home
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Labels: Michigan, NASGA, National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse, nursing home, woman pleads guilty to stealing from father
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
MEJI (Michigan Elder Justice Initiative) Celebrates the Passage of Two Important Guardianship and Conservatorship Reform Bills
Two important bills--SB 585 and SB 586--are on their way to the Governor’s desk after unanimous support in the Michigan House and Senate.
These bills address a common situation: A guardian moves someone from their long-time home into a nursing home, throws away their belongings, and then the conservator quickly sells the house for below fair market value. . SB 585 requires a recent appraisal by a licensed professional before the court permits a conservator to sell a person’s home and requires the court to explain if it approves a sale for less than fair market value. SB 586 requires court approval and provides additional safeguards before a guardian permanently moves an individual out of their home. The bills reflect MEJI’s longstanding efforts with the Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force to reform Michigan’s guardianship system and ensure people under guardianship and conservatorship are protected and empowered.
NO BS Newshour
with Charlie LeDuff 2/6/26
https://www.nobsnewshour.com/who-paid-for-the-coat-3/
In The News
Video from NO BS News Hour with
Charlie LeDuff
This video examines the case of Traci Kornak, former treasurer of the Michigan Democratic Party, who is facing multiple investigations related to her role as court-appointed conservator for Rose Burd, a woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Rose Burd passed away in April of last year. Since her death, her family—particularly her sister, Debbie Valenti—has sought answers about both Rose’s finances and the handling of her remains.
According to Valenti, Rose had expressed a clear wish for a Catholic funeral and burial next to her first husband, with her name already engraved on the family headstone. However, Rose was cremated instead. Valenti states that Kornak informed the family there were no remaining funds in Rose’s accounts to cover burial expenses and arrived at the funeral services with Rose’s ashes.
Valenti further alleges that Kornak retained possession of the ashes after the service. The family later recovered Rose Burd’s remains and is now reviewing possible next steps.
Kornak did not respond to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
This case raises serious questions about conservatorship oversight, transparency, and the treatment of vulnerable individuals within the probate system.
https://www.metrotimes.com/news/fbi-probe-detroit-probate-court/
Thursday, January 22, 2026
FBI probe of Detroit probate court could lead to indictment
by Nathalie Eder
Federal investigators are zeroing in on a bribery and corruption probe involving 36th District Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin and the disappearance of $550,000 from a 91-year-old woman, with a federal indictment expected soon in the sweeping investigation of Metro Detroit’s probate court system.
Missing funds fuel federal investigation
Court officials are working to determine how $550,000 belonging to a 91-year-old mentally incapacitated woman went missing while her finances were being handled through probate proceedings, according to court filings referenced by investigators. The disappearance of the funds has become a central focus of a federal investigation into how assets belonging to vulnerable adults are managed within Metro Detroit’s probate court system.
As the inquiry has progressed, federal and probate court records show investigators have broadened their review beyond the single case. Filings describe concerns involving “drained bank accounts” and “valuable assets belonging to wards of the court,” prompting a closer examination of financial records tied to guardianship and conservatorship arrangements. Officials have described the matter as a rare federal corruption probe involving local court operations.
Broader probate system under scrutiny
The federal probe has drawn increased attention to Metro Detroit’s probate court system, which oversees guardianships and conservatorships for mentally incapacitated individuals. These courts are responsible for managing the care and financial affairs of some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
Andrea Bradley-Baskin, who currently serves as a judge on Detroit’s 36th District Court, is among what court filings describe as “a cast of people under investigation” connected to the probe. No charges have been filed, and the filings do not specify who, if anyone, will ultimately be indicted. Bradley-Baskin has not publicly responded to the investigation.
Federal corruption probes involving local court operations are uncommon. The case involves a federal bribery investigation, a type of inquiry that carries significant consequences when it intersects with the judicial system.
Pattern of financial irregularities
Court records show investigators are reviewing financial activity connected to multiple wards of the probate court, as part of a broader examination into how assets have been handled within the system. Reporting on the investigation indicates that records involving the sale of at least five homes owned by incapacitated individuals, along with assets belonging to other wards of the court, have become part of the FBI’s review of probate estate management.
Probate courts typically oversee such funds through appointed guardians or conservators, who are legally required to manage assets carefully, transparently, and in the ward’s best interests.
Federal resources deployed
The investigation has involved significant federal law enforcement resources, including the FBI, which has executed sealed search warrants and seized financial records as part of the inquiry. Court filings show those warrants authorized agents to collect documents related to the care and finances of probate court wards, as well as records detailing the receipt and distribution of funds tied to court-supervised assets.
As part of that process, investigators have seized more than $580,000 from properties and accounts connected to guardianship firms and individuals under review. The warrants also allowed agents to obtain records that could identify associates and trace financial transactions connected to the management of ward assets.
Public corruption cases of this kind typically involve extensive financial analysis and long-running evidence reviews. Federal prosecutors generally rely on detailed records, rather than public statements, as they work toward potential charges.
Community impact and trust issues
The investigation has put renewed focus on the probate court system, which many families across Metro Detroit rely on when elderly or incapacitated relatives can no longer manage their own affairs. In such situations, the courts appoint guardians or conservators, and they are expected to oversee how finances and personal decisions are handled.
When allegations involve missing or mismanaged funds, it raises questions about accountability in a system designed to protect vulnerable people. Court-supervised assets are often meant to pay for basic needs, including housing, medical care, and everyday expenses, leaving little margin for error when oversight breaks down.
Federal involvement in cases like this is unusual, and it has drawn attention to how safeguards within the probate system function in practice. For families who depend on those protections, maintaining trust in the process is critical.
Legal and administrative consequences
If federal charges are filed, it would mark a major step in the investigation. Public corruption cases at the federal level can carry serious penalties, and when they involve judges or court officials, they can trigger additional scrutiny beyond the criminal case itself.
In Michigan, judges fall under the authority of the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, an independent body that investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and can recommend disciplinary action to the Michigan Supreme Court. Actions can range from admonishment to suspension or removal and are handled separately from any federal prosecution, though no disciplinary action has been announced in connection with this investigation.
Next steps in the federal case
Federal prosecutors have not said whether charges will be filed, but court records show the investigation has been underway for months and is now entering a phase where charging decisions are typically made. Allegations and financial activity reviewed by investigators span several years, with records dating back to at least 2016.
Any decision to bring charges would come only after prosecutors complete their review of the evidence gathered during the investigation. In federal public corruption cases, charging decisions are often made after lengthy analysis of financial records and related documentation, so the timeline is unknown.
Full Article & Source:
FBI probe of Detroit probate court could lead to indictment
Charges filed in Kent County on January 28, 2026 against Traci Kornic, a former treasurer of the Michigan Democratic Party, with criminal offenses related to her role as a conservator for Rose Burd. She faces two counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult; and one count of false pretenses.
The allegations were known for years by top Michigan officials, including Attorney General Dana Nessel and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, yet Kornak remained in a position of political trust during that time.
Investigative journalist Charlie LeDuff continued reporting on the case after it was largely ignored or minimized, helping keep public attention on the alleged exploitation of a vulnerable senior.
After years of delay, the case is now headed to court—raising serious questions about political protection, accountability, and how long alleged financial abuse of elderly individuals can go unchecked when powerful allies are involved. This is just the tip of the iceberg! Michigans Probate Courts are a cesspool! #ProbateReform #fraudonthecourt #GuardianshipAbuse #fraud
Watch Charlie LeDuff’s interview with State Rep Jay DeBoyer chair of the oversight committee that investigated this case and Attorney General Dana Nessel’s failing to answer a subpoena to testify as to why she refused to charge Kornac.
Johnson’s guardianship reform sent to governor
July 9, 2026
LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Ruth Johnson’s legislation to reform the state’s guardianship laws and help protect vulnerable individuals and their homes from guardians who might not be acting in their best interest is headed to the governor to be signed.
“It is heartbreaking to hear from dozens of families who have watched helplessly as a loved one was removed from their home without a hearing, without notice and without a voice,” said Johnson, R-Holly. “The loved one’s home is often sold for well below market value, and families have no recourse. This reform will ensure that the best interests of our most vulnerable residents — not the convenience of their guardians — will drive important decisions like moving someone out of their home and selling their house.”
Johnson’s bill, Senate Bill 586, would ensure that a protected individual’s living arrangements are truly in their best interest. Under the bill, a guardian would not be allowed to change an incapacitated person’s residence without court approval after demonstrating the move is necessary and appropriate for the individual’s needs.
SB 585, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin, would require a licensed appraiser to appraise the value of a protected person’s home before any sale of that property.
“Vulnerable adults placed into guardianship deserve to have their rights protected,” said Irwin, D-Ann Arbor. “Once signed into law, my bill requires a professional appraisal before the sale of real estate owned by an adult placed in guardianship. This measure provides accountability and clarity, protecting the assets of people placed under guardianship.”
Johnson said, “This bipartisan effort is about protecting those who cannot protect themselves by adding more meaningful accountability and oversight to our guardianship system.”
