Sunday, December 12, 2010

Former Michigan Public Guardian Sentenced for Embezzlement

Former Arenac County Public Guardian Sherilyn Jones has been sentenced to three years and four months to 20 years in prison, and ordered to pay $300,649.16 in restitution for criminal enterprise and racketeering.

Jones was sentenced by 23rd Circuit Court Judge William Myles Wednesday, Dec. 8.

The Michigan State Police conducted an investigation last year that uncovered that $300,000 was misappropriated from approximately 50 clients, during the years 1999 to 2009.

District 3 County Commissioner Michael Snyder said that this case hurt the reputation of Arenac County.

“I was personally horrified by the situation,” Snyder said. “The amount of money that was taken was staggering. It is like the old saying goes, ‘death by a thousand cuts.’"

He said that the county has changed the way the public guardian’s office is run and added that more precautions are being taken to prevent this from happening again.

“We have taken some important steps,” Snyder said. “There are now a number of individual audits performed throughout the year.”

He added that people who had money stolen are currently being paid back.

Full Article and Source:
Former Public Guardian Sentenced for Embezzlement

See Also:
Arenac County Votes to Keep Public Guardian Office

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a case which points out that all public guardians need to be scrutinized.

StandUp said...

I am thrilled they got Sherilyn Jones, but what I wonder is how many families complained and went unheard before an investigation was conducted?

Doug said...

It's a victory for all guardianship victims.

Yvonne said...

Racketeering is the description used so often to describe guardianship. In situations where public guardians or for profit guardians are involved, there are always more than one victim. Racketerring it is for sure.

Barbara said...

Jail and resitution, now that's appropriate.

Anonymous said...

Good news, another thief put away!

Thelma said...

If it was only $300,000 over ten years from 50 people, she was very light fingered; and that is probably why no one picked it up - IF they were auditing.

Anonymous said...

It's not often that corrupt Guardians are prosecuted. Usually those in the system want some of the loot. Way to go Michigan.

Anonymous said...

We have the same thing going on at the Vets home in Grand Rapids.

Guardians are misappropriating personal funds from the veterans bank accounts to pay for medical expenses that are supposed to be covered by the VA.

Also, ID Thefts of these veterans is on the rise.

Wish we could get these people investigated, but the local judge is also part of the problem.

Anonymous said...

We have the same thing going on at the Vets home in Grand Rapids.

Guardians are misappropriating personal funds from the veterans bank accounts to pay for medical expenses that are supposed to be covered by the VA.

Also, ID Thefts of these veterans is on the rise.

Wish we could get these people investigated, but the local judge is also part of the problem.