In recent legal proceedings, 57-year-old Burtchville resident Lisa Marie Tramski entered a guilty plea to one count of embezzlement, acknowledging her wrongful appropriation of funds exceeding $50,000. Appointed as a guardian to a vulnerable elderly woman, Tramski admitted to embezzling more than $86,000 after the death of the woman she was supposed to protect, as reported by The Times Herald.
Tramski's plea follows charges laid in February, where she became the court-appointed guardian for the victim who then died within weeks; she swiftly had the victim sign a new will favoring her, and despite the will being contested legally, Tramski continued to transfer $86,033.75 from the victim's accounts to her own and the probate court would later annul the questionable will that had been executed scarcely seven days prior to the victim's passing. According to a press release from the Michigan Department of Attorney General, these actions constituted gross misconduct warranting the original felony charges.
As part of the plea agreement, Tramski is obligated to pay $51,600.75 in restitution prior to her sentencing. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has regarded the plea as "a significant step toward justice," vowing continued efforts to demand accountability for those who exploit the defenseless.
Tramski, who had no previous criminal record, expressed remorse for her actions through her attorney, Josh Rubin, who conveyed, "Lisa Tramski has taken full responsibility for her actions in this case and very much regrets that she could have done things differently in her attempt to carry out the wishes of her close friend," he noted that she has already made substantial efforts by paying full restitution as evidenced in a statement to The Times Herald, proceeding to acknowledge her respect for the legal process and indicating her aspiration towards redemption in the aftermath of this complex situation.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 16 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Daniel A. Damman in the 31st Circuit Court in St. Clair County, marking the concluding phase of a case that underscores the importance of judicial vigilance in guardianship roles, where opportunism can impose profound consequences on those incapacitated and the justice system tasked with their protection.
