On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Detroit Metro Times reported that federal investigators are intensifying a bribery and corruption probe centered around 36th District Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin and the disappearance of $550,000 from a 91-year-old woman. A federal indictment is anticipated in the ongoing investigation of Metro Detroit’s probate court system.
Court officials are currently trying to determine the whereabouts of $550,000 that went missing from a 91-year-old mentally incapacitated woman. The funds were being managed through probate proceedings. The disappearance has become a focal point in the federal investigation regarding the management of assets belonging to vulnerable adults within Metro Detroit’s probate court system.
Investigators have broadened their review beyond the initial case, examining federal and probate court records. Concerns have been raised about “drained bank accounts” and “valuable assets belonging to wards of the court,” leading to a closer examination of financial records related to guardianship and conservatorship arrangements. Officials have characterized the matter as a rare federal corruption probe involving local court operations.
The federal probe has brought increased attention to Metro Detroit’s probate court system, which oversees guardianships and conservatorships for mentally incapacitated individuals. These courts are responsible for managing the care and financial affairs of some of the community’s most vulnerable residents. Andrea Bradley-Baskin, a judge on Detroit’s 36th District Court, is among those described in court filings as “a cast of people under investigation” connected to the probe. As of now, no charges have been filed, and the filings do not specify who, if anyone, will ultimately be indicted. Bradley-Baskin has not yet publicly responded to the investigation.
Court records indicate that investigators are reviewing financial activity connected to multiple wards of the probate court, as part of a broader examination into how assets have been handled within the system. The investigation includes records involving the sale of at least five homes owned by incapacitated individuals, along with assets belonging to other wards of the court.
The investigation has involved significant federal law enforcement resources, including the FBI, which has executed sealed search warrants and seized financial records. Court filings show that these warrants authorized agents to collect documents related to the care and finances of probate court wards, as well as records detailing the receipt and distribution of funds tied to court-supervised assets. Investigators have seized more than $580,000 from properties and accounts connected to guardianship firms and individuals under review. The warrants also allowed agents to obtain records to identify associates and trace financial transactions connected to the management of ward assets.
In Michigan, judges fall under the authority of the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, an independent body that investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and can recommend disciplinary action to the Michigan Supreme Court. Actions can range from admonishment to suspension or removal and are handled separately from any federal prosecution.
Source: Detroit Metro Times
