Federal investigators are zeroing in on a bribery and corruption probe involving 36th District Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin and the disappearance of $550,000 from a 91-year-old woman, with a federal indictment expected soon in the sweeping investigation of Metro Detroit’s probate court system.
Missing funds fuel federal investigation
Court officials are working to determine how $550,000 belonging to a 91-year-old mentally incapacitated woman went missing while her finances were being handled through probate proceedings, according to court filings referenced by investigators. The disappearance of the funds has become a central focus of a federal investigation into how assets belonging to vulnerable adults are managed within Metro Detroit’s probate court system.
As the inquiry has progressed, federal and probate court records show investigators have broadened their review beyond the single case. Filings describe concerns involving “drained bank accounts” and “valuable assets belonging to wards of the court,” prompting a closer examination of financial records tied to guardianship and conservatorship arrangements. Officials have described the matter as a rare federal corruption probe involving local court operations.
Broader probate system under scrutiny
The federal probe has drawn increased attention to Metro Detroit’s probate court system, which oversees guardianships and conservatorships for mentally incapacitated individuals. These courts are responsible for managing the care and financial affairs of some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
Andrea Bradley-Baskin, who currently serves as a judge on Detroit’s 36th District Court, is among what court filings describe as “a cast of people under investigation” connected to the probe. No charges have been filed, and the filings do not specify who, if anyone, will ultimately be indicted. Bradley-Baskin has not publicly responded to the investigation.
Federal corruption probes involving local court operations are uncommon. The case involves a federal bribery investigation, a type of inquiry that carries significant consequences when it intersects with the judicial system.
Pattern of financial irregularities
Court records show investigators are reviewing financial activity connected to multiple wards of the probate court, as part of a broader examination into how assets have been handled within the system. Reporting on the investigation indicates that records involving the sale of at least five homes owned by incapacitated individuals, along with assets belonging to other wards of the court, have become part of the FBI’s review of probate estate management.
Probate courts typically oversee such funds through appointed guardians or conservators, who are legally required to manage assets carefully, transparently, and in the ward’s best interests.
Federal resources deployed
The investigation has involved significant federal law enforcement resources, including the FBI, which has executed sealed search warrants and seized financial records as part of the inquiry. Court filings show those warrants authorized agents to collect documents related to the care and finances of probate court wards, as well as records detailing the receipt and distribution of funds tied to court-supervised assets.
As part of that process, investigators have seized more than $580,000 from properties and accounts connected to guardianship firms and individuals under review. The warrants also allowed agents to obtain records that could identify associates and trace financial transactions connected to the management of ward assets.
Public corruption cases of this kind typically involve extensive financial analysis and long-running evidence reviews. Federal prosecutors generally rely on detailed records, rather than public statements, as they work toward potential charges.
Community impact and trust issues
The investigation has put renewed focus on the probate court system, which many families across Metro Detroit rely on when elderly or incapacitated relatives can no longer manage their own affairs. In such situations, the courts appoint guardians or conservators, and they are expected to oversee how finances and personal decisions are handled.
When allegations involve missing or mismanaged funds, it raises questions about accountability in a system designed to protect vulnerable people. Court-supervised assets are often meant to pay for basic needs, including housing, medical care, and everyday expenses, leaving little margin for error when oversight breaks down.
Federal involvement in cases like this is unusual, and it has drawn attention to how safeguards within the probate system function in practice. For families who depend on those protections, maintaining trust in the process is critical.
Legal and administrative consequences
If federal charges are filed, it would mark a major step in the investigation. Public corruption cases at the federal level can carry serious penalties, and when they involve judges or court officials, they can trigger additional scrutiny beyond the criminal case itself.
In Michigan, judges fall under the authority of the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, an independent body that investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and can recommend disciplinary action to the Michigan Supreme Court. Actions can range from admonishment to suspension or removal and are handled separately from any federal prosecution, though no disciplinary action has been announced in connection with this investigation.
Next steps in the federal case
Federal prosecutors have not said whether charges will be filed, but court records show the investigation has been underway for months and is now entering a phase where charging decisions are typically made. Allegations and financial activity reviewed by investigators span several years, with records dating back to at least 2016.
Any decision to bring charges would come only after prosecutors complete their review of the evidence gathered during the investigation. In federal public corruption cases, charging decisions are often made after lengthy analysis of financial records and related documentation, so the timeline is unknown.