DETROIT (WWJ) A former Wayne County Circuit Court clerk was arraigned on forgery and allegedly embezzling more than $60,000 from his employer, a sitting Circuit Court judge, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
The Attorney General’s Office alleges that Steve Allen, 42, of Detroit illegally obtained an ATM card associated with the judge’s accounts, made withdrawals and purchases, and in an attempt to hide his crime, he forged checks and presented them to the victim. Allen worked in the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County from 2018 to 2022.
According to Nessel’s Office, the judge realized the missing funds after he was notified of delinquent taxes on a secondary property, “despite Allen presenting them with checks made to look like they were sent to satisfy the tax.”
Allen was charged with one count of Embezzlement $50k-100k, a 15-year felony; Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, a 10-year felony, Forgery of Banks and Bills/Promissory Notes, a 7-year felony; and Stealing or Retaining Without Consent a Financial Transaction Device, a 4-year felony.
“Everyone should exercise extreme caution in who you permit to access your financial accounts,” Nessel said in a press release. “Even judges are not immune to theft, embezzlement and fraud perpetrated against them by those they trust the most. Truly anyone can fall victim to financial exploitation crimes.”
Allen is due back in court on January 29th. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for February 5th.