Detroit, MI - A Detroit woman will face embezzlement charges for allegedly stealing money from her mother and brother while they lived in nursing homes, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday, June 28, 2021.
Kim Carter, 41, faces two counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult over $1,000 and under $20,000, felonies punishable by five years and/or $10,000 each.
Carter was guardian for her mother, who lived in Alpha Manor Nursing Home in Detroit. It is alleged that Carter used her position as guardian to spend more than $17,000 from her mother’s bank accounts on items not related to her mother while also not paying for her mother’s care at the nursing home.
Carter’s brother lived in Boulevard Manor Nursing Home in Detroit and Carter was his social security representative payee. It is alleged she used her position as her mother’s guardian to access her brother’s bank accounts and spend more than $6,000 from his accounts on items not related to him or his care.
“Taking on the role of guardian for a family member is most often a noble and compassionate undertaking—but it comes with legal obligations,” said Nessel. “Getting legal access as guardian to the finances of a family member doesn’t make that account your personal slush fund. We stand ready to take action against anyone who tries to take advantage of those no longer in control of their own finances.”
Carter was charged in the 36th District Court in Wayne County on Thursday. Arraignment and a probable cause conference are being scheduled by the court.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General, Health Care Fraud Division, receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $5,025,536 for Federal fiscal year 2021. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $1,675.177, is funded by the State of Michigan.