Detroit Judge Charged In Alleged Scheme Targeting Vulnerable Residents

Federal prosecutors have brought serious charges against a Detroit judge, alleging a disturbing scheme that targeted some of the most vulnerable individuals in the justice system.

Authorities say Andrea Bradley-Baskin has been charged in connection with an alleged conspiracy to steal money from legally incapacitated individuals in the Detroit area. The case centers on people placed under guardianship—individuals who rely entirely on the courts and appointed officials to safeguard their finances and property.

Also charged in the case are Nancy Williams, who runs the guardianship service Guardian and Associates, and her fiancé Dwight Rashad, according to reporting by New York Post.

Federal prosecutors allege that Bradley-Baskin personally benefited from the operation. Investigators say $54,250 connected to the alleged scheme was used to rent a townhouse valued at nearly $900,000 in Detroit’s Brush Park neighborhood, located near Little Caesars Arena.

Authorities further claim that more than $29,000 taken from victims was used to rent a separate home in Westland.

Property records indicate Bradley-Baskin had been residing at the Westland property as early as 2019. However, the allegations outlined by federal investigators extend far beyond questionable housing payments.

One particularly troubling accusation involves Frankie James, a legally incapacitated woman who was placed under a court-appointed guardian’s care.

According to investigators, James’ Detroit home was sold to a company owned by Corey Baskin—the judge’s husband—for just one dollar. The property was later sold again for $140,000.

If confirmed, the transaction would represent the very type of abuse that guardianship systems are intended to prevent.

Another case cited by investigators involves Ethel Ciotti, a now-deceased resident of Lincoln Park. Her home was reportedly sold by her court-appointed personal representative, attorney Avery Bradley.

Federal authorities say Bradley—who is also the judge’s father—and Bradley-Baskin are both under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with the alleged scheme.

Meanwhile, prosecutors have begun efforts to secure assets they believe are tied to the operation.

Officials recently filed a federal lien on an office building in Oak Park. The filing suggests the property could ultimately be forfeited to the government because it may be connected to bribery and other federal offenses.

In May 2025, prosecutors filed an additional lien on a home in Southfield that may also be subject to forfeiture.

Together, investigators believe these properties may reveal the financial trail of what they describe as a broader conspiracy stretching across the Detroit metro area.

Federal agents have also obtained search warrants allowing them to seize records related to the finances and care of minors and legally incapacitated individuals. Those warrants include documents tied to Bradley-Baskin’s legal work in guardianship cases.

Authorities are now reviewing those materials as the investigation continues.

Cases like this strike at the core of public confidence in the justice system. Guardianship courts are designed to protect individuals who cannot protect themselves—often the elderly, the mentally incapacitated, or minors.

Because these individuals frequently lack the ability to monitor their finances or challenge legal decisions made on their behalf, the system relies heavily on trust in the officials responsible for overseeing their care.

When those entrusted with that responsibility are accused of exploiting it, the consequences reach far beyond the individual victims.

The allegations in this case are particularly troubling because they involve multiple members of the same family—raising serious questions about whether a network of relationships may have enabled the alleged misconduct.

A father serving as a court-appointed representative. A daughter elected to the bench. A husband allegedly benefiting from a questionable property transaction involving an incapacitated woman.

If prosecutors ultimately prove their case, it would represent not only corruption but a profound betrayal of a legal system designed to protect society’s most vulnerable.

The timeline of the investigation also raises questions about transparency. Bradley-Baskin was elected to the Detroit bench in November 2024—even though the FBI investigation had reportedly already been underway.

That reality highlights a recurring problem in many major cities: corruption probes often remain largely hidden from the public until charges are formally filed.

Without access to that information, voters are left to make decisions without the full picture.