Detroit Judge Charged In Alleged Scheme Targeting Vulnerable Residents
A sitting judge on Detroit’s 36th District Court now faces serious federal charges in a case that is raising profound concerns about corruption, accountability, and the protection of society’s most vulnerable.
Federal prosecutors have charged Andrea Bradley-Baskin with allegedly orchestrating a conspiracy to steal money from legally incapacitated individuals—people who rely entirely on court-appointed guardians and the legal system to safeguard their finances and property.
Also charged in the case are Nancy Williams, who operates Guardian and Associates, and her fiancé, convicted felon Dwight Rashad. According to federal authorities, the scheme systematically targeted individuals placed under guardianship, exploiting a system intended to protect those unable to protect themselves.
Bradley-Baskin, who was elected to the bench in November 2024, is accused of personally benefiting from the alleged operation. Investigators say she used $54,250 tied to the scheme to rent a nearly $900,000 townhouse in Detroit’s upscale Brush Park neighborhood, near Little Caesars Arena. Prosecutors further allege that more than $29,000 taken from victims was used to rent a separate home in Westland—where property records indicate she had been residing since at least 2019.
Perhaps the most disturbing allegation involves Frankie James, a legally incapacitated woman whose Detroit home was allegedly sold for just one dollar to a company owned by Corey Baskin, the judge’s husband. The property was later resold for $140,000—raising serious questions about exploitation and abuse of authority within a system designed to prevent exactly that.
Another case cited by investigators involves the late Ethel Ciotti. Her home was sold by her court-appointed representative, attorney Avery Bradley—who is also the father of Judge Bradley-Baskin. Both individuals are reportedly under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the expanding probe.
Federal authorities have begun aggressively moving to secure assets tied to the alleged scheme. Prosecutors filed a federal lien on an Oak Park office building, signaling it could be forfeited due to its alleged connection to bribery and other federal crimes. A second lien, filed in May 2025, targets a home in Southfield—further outlining what investigators believe is a broader financial trail across the Detroit metro area.
The FBI has also executed search warrants to seize records related to the care and finances of minors and legally incapacitated individuals, including documentation connected to Bradley-Baskin’s legal work in guardianship cases. Those records are now under review as investigators work to determine the full scope of the alleged misconduct.
At its core, the case strikes at the heart of public trust in the justice system. Guardianship courts exist to protect the elderly, minors, and mentally incapacitated individuals—citizens who often lack the ability to oversee their own financial or legal affairs. Allegations that those entrusted with such responsibility instead exploited that power are deeply troubling.
The involvement of multiple members of the same family only intensifies those concerns: a father serving as a court-appointed representative, a daughter elevated to the bench, and a husband allegedly profiting from questionable property transactions involving vulnerable individuals.
If proven, the accusations would represent not just isolated wrongdoing, but a systemic abuse of authority within a process meant to shield society’s most defenseless.
The timeline also raises difficult questions for voters. Bradley-Baskin’s election in 2024 occurred while the FBI investigation was already underway—highlighting a recurring issue in major urban centers where critical information about public officials often remains hidden until after elections are decided.
In the end, the case serves as a stark reminder: when transparency is lacking, accountability suffers—and the most vulnerable pay the price.