Lansing, MI - Lisa Ludy, 52, of Macomb, was bound over Wednesday to Macomb County Circuit Court for trial on the 18 felony counts she faces for allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from two vulnerable adults, over whom she held court-appointed authority as guardian and conservator, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
In 2016, Ludy petitioned to have her company, Community Guardian Care, Inc., appointed as a guardian and conservator for one of two alleged victims. The Department of Attorney General alleges that upon appointment as guardian and conservator, Ludy used her position and company to steal over $100,000 from the victim, which she used to pay personal bills and funnel money to her family’s companies, Career Health Studies, Career Health Training Corporation, and Applewood Adult Foster Care Home. It is also alleged that Ludy intentionally concealed the money she took from the victim and failed to file income taxes from 2016 through 2019.
After Ludy was initially charged, a second victim reported that Ludy would not return his money. The Department of Attorney General alleges that after Ludy was removed as the second victim’s guardian, she stole his Social Security income from his bank account by using his debit card to make numerous purchases and cash withdrawals from the account. Additionally, it is alleged that after a criminal investigation was initiated, Ludy interfered with the victim and attempted to prevent and/or obstruct him from pressing charges and testifying in court against her.
Ludy now faces the following charges on two separate felony complaints in Macomb County Circuit Court:
In Macomb County District Court File No. 22-2054-FY:
- One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, punishable by 20 years and/or $100,000;
- Six counts of Financial Transaction Device-Stealing/Retaining Without Consent, punishable by 4 years and/or $5,000;
- One count of Embezzlement From a Vulnerable Adult- $1,000 or More But Less Than $20,000, punishable by 5 years and/or $10,000; and
- One count of Witness-Bribing/Intimidating/Interfering, punishable by 4 years and/or $5,000.
In Macomb County District Court File No. 22-1583-FY:
- One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, punishable by 20 years and/or $100,000;
- Two counts of Embezzlement $1,000 to $20,000, 5-year felonies;
- One count of Embezzlement $20,000 to $50,0000, a 10-year felony;
- One count of Embezzlement $50,000 to $100,000, a 15-year felony; and
- Four counts of Failure to File Tax Return, 5-year felonies.
"Court appointed guardians and conservators should be held to the highest standards so that our elderly and vulnerable adults can trust the system meant to protect them,” said Nessel. “When those conservators fail that trust, my office will hold them accountable.”
Ludy is scheduled for a circuit court arraignment on September 25, 2023, before Judge Julie Gatti in Macomb County Circuit Court.
Please note: A criminal charge is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.