A former employee of the Wayne County Circuit Court is on the hook for trial, accused of swiping over $60,000 from a judge. Steven Allen, promoted to the role of the courtroom perpetrator, previously labored as a judicial assistant. He's up against charges including using a computer to commit a crime and embezzlement, as reported by CBS Detroit.
Allen's list of charges doesn't stop there. Forgery of bank bills and pocketing a financial transaction device without permission are also on the docket, said officials. The 42-year-old Detroit resident allegedly made himself at home with a judge's ATM card, making unauthorized withdrawals and covering his tracks with forged checks. He’s slated to appear for arraignment on Feb. 28, ironically in the same court he once served, "Everyone should exercise extreme caution in who you permit to access your financial accounts," warned Attorney General Dana Nessel, noting even judges aren't shielded from fraud by those they trust.
Shifting from pen-pusher to alleged pilferer, Allen worked under the gavel from 2018 to 2022 before his actions caught the eye of the law. The discovery came to a head when the victim judge noticed dodgy taxes on a second home and funds gone missing, despite Allen's presentation of allegedly doctored checks that seemed to be taking care of such taxes. These details came to light following a statement from the Michigan Department of Attorney General, which clarified that Allen had waived his preliminary exam and would stand trial on four felonies.
The litany of felonies carries significant weight. With one count apiece for embezzlement and using a computer to commit a crime, Allen faces up to 15 and ten years respectively, if convicted. To add insult to (financial) injury, forgery could see him behind bars for another seven, and the rogue use of a transaction device for four more. "Truly anyone can fall victim to financial exploitation crimes,” Nessel remarked, implying no one's off the hook, reiterating her previous statement. Allen will next set foot in the 3rd Circuit Court, where judgment will now pass from his former employer to his peers, as outlined by the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
