Redford Township woman charged with embezzling money from elderly father in nursing home

Renee Bullock accused of embezzling $140K from father, spent money on casinos, tanning, nail salons

LANSING, Mich. – A Redford Township woman is charged with embezzling money from her elderly father while he was in a nursing home.

Renee Bullock was charged with one felony count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult.

Mich. Attorney General Bill Schuette announced the charges on Wednesday.

Schuette say Bullock used more than $140,000 of her father's money for her own personal use.

Bullock was granted power of attorney and appointed guardianship of her father after he was admitted to nursing facility in Westland.

From the time her father was admitted to the facility in Dec. 2010, until March 2012, Schuette says Bullock failed to make payments to the nursing home.

Read: Tips for seniors living alone.

Instead Schuette says Bullock leased a Cadillac CTS and a Chevrolet Tahoe and made payments to them using the funds.

An investigation also found the money was used at casinos, nail and tanning salons, numerous restaurants and retail establishments.

In addition, Schuette says cash advance loans were repaid with the money.

"Financial exploitation of Michigan's most vulnerable, our seniors, is one of the fastest growing crimes," said Schuette. "Nursing home residents are the most vulnerable and the least likely to detect or report exploitation. We are cracking down on criminals who target Michigan's nursing home residents."

In March, Bullock's Letters of Conservatorship were restricted and her father's assets were frozen by the court.

She was also removed as conservator of her father's estate.

In 2012 Michigan, along with 26 other states, introduced legislation to address financial crimes against the elderly and other vulnerable adults.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a recent study published by MetLife estimates that elderly victims lose $2.9 billion annually to fraud.

Sadly, all too often family members are responsible.

Bullock was released on a $10,000 bond.

She is due back in court for a preliminary exam on Dec. 6th.

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