SAGINAW (WWJ) - A 60-year-old Saginaw woman pled guilty to embezzlement charges after she allegedly took over $100k from her disabled mother.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the latest updates in the case on Friday after Valda Cork, 60, pled guilty in Saginaw Circuit Court to one count of Embezzlement of $100,000 or more from her own mother with medical needs.
According to Nessel, Cork was appointed as her mother's guardian and conservator back in 2018 after her mother suffered multiple strokes and could no longer care for herself.
Authorities claim that Cork spent approximately $1.1 million of her mother's money over a 12-month span. Nessel said Cork made purchases totaling $228,817 that she did not report to probate court.
The 60-year-old woman also made a $664,872 for the purchase of a condo in Pompano Beach, Florida for which she did not have court authorization, Nessel added.
Cork allegedly purchased the condo through a "ladybird" deed, which allowed Cork to inherit the condo in the event of her mother's death without having to go through probate. The way the property was bought also prevented her siblings from inheriting any part of it.
The probate count eventually replaced Cork with a new guardian and conservator for her mother and the condo was sold with the proceeds paid back to her mother's estate.
"Unfortunately, even family members cannot always be trusted to safeguard the property of their loved ones," Nessel said. "We always warn vulnerable adults and those who care for those adults to be cautious about who has access to a protected person's property."
In addition to her guilty plea, Cork agreed to repay $196,394 in recitation to her mother's estate and the Michigan Department of Treasury.
"Vulnerable adults should be able to live in comfort without being taken advantage of by those appointed to care for them," Nessel concluded.
The case was referred to the Department of Attorney General's office by the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office. There is not currently a date for Cork's sentencing.
