‘AG Nessel Continues to Be Reluctant to Prosecute Attorneys Who Have Executed These Same Types of Frauds,’ Say Guardianship Victims

By Gary Glennell Toms 

On February 27, From The G-Man received the following press release from the office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

St. Clair County Woman Charged for Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult

LANSING – Today, Lisa Marie Tramski, 56, of Burtchville, was arraigned before Judge Susan M. Borovich in the 72nd District Court in Port Huron on three felony charges, alleging she embezzled more than $86,000 from an elderly woman after becoming her court appointed guardian, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

In early 2018, Tramski was appointed guardian for the purported victim, who died only weeks later. About a week before the death, Tramski allegedly had the victim sign a will leaving everything to Tramski. It is alleged that, despite knowing there were legal challenges to the will, Tramski proceeded to take $86,033.75 from the victim’s accounts. Ultimately, the probate court invalidated the will benefitting Tramski.

Many individuals serve as appointed guardians for vulnerable adults throughout the state and most perform their duties with honesty and integrity,” said Nessel. “My office will continue to investigate and prosecute alleged abuses of power, and to hold accountable those who victimize the people they are supposed to be helping.”

Tramski is charged with three felonies: one count of embezzlement of $50,000 to $100,000; one count of failure to file a tax return; and, one count of making/permitting the filing of false tax returns.

Tramski will next appear before the Honorable Mona S. Armstrong in the 72nd District Court in St. Clair County for a Probable Cause Conference on March 12, 2024.

Please note: For all criminal proceedings, a criminal charge is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Department does not provide booking photos.

In November of 2023, Rick Black, Director of the Center for Estate Administration Reform, also known as CEAR, and Michigan resident and activist Jody Rice-White appeared on The G-Man Interviews podcast to recount their harrowing experiences with what they called “systemic corruption within probate courts and the guardianship system.” The segment, entitled Courtroom Carnage: ‘Families Are Being Targeted, Exploited and Destroyed Through Guardianships,’ went viral and additional reports on the issue will be published on this site over the next several months.

Black’s experience, which he described as “an absolute nightmare,” caused him to leave his profession and begin studying guardianship files and proceedings in Nevada and across the country. His research and work with local media and the Nevada Attorney General led to a statewide investigation into adult guardianship abuse. As of 2020, those efforts have yielded massive statewide reforms and 10 convictions of Nevada attorneys and professional guardians who used guardianships as a cover for their criminal acts.

Since its inception, CEAR has investigated and counseled over 3,000 cases, nationwide, of suspected durable power of attorney, trust, and adult guardianship and probate fraud orchestrated by the predatory legal community.

From The G-Man contacted the CEAR director shortly after Attorney General Nessel’s statement was released and asked him to comment. He emailed the following statement.

“Lisa Marie Tramski, 56 was a real estate agent who exploited Pauline Runyun, 84 after Pauline met her while investigating assisted living facility The Village of Lake Huron Woods in St. Clair County, a Presbyterian affiliated facility, in 2017. Tramski then proceeded to obtain Runyun a room and then modified her will after a fall to leave her entire estate to herself.

“There are too many predators who prey on America’s vulnerable adults under the guise of assisting. Tramski modified the will on May 4, 2018 and Runyun died on May 12, 2018 at 85.

“I am encouraged by AG Nessel actions to prosecute these cases. However, she continues to be reluctant to prosecute attorneys in the state who have executed these same types of frauds.”

From The G-Man has repeatedly contacted the office of Attorney General Nessel to discuss the aforementioned episode, the statements made by Mr. Black and Ms. Rice-White, and to have her appear on the podcast to discuss guardianship in Michigan. To this day, there has been no response.

Reports of suspected elder abuse can be made directly to the Department of Attorney General via the new Elder Financial Exploitation/Patient Abuse Complaint webform.