A Michigan woman who admitted taking more than $600,000 from her elderly grandmother will spend a year in prison after prosecutors described the case as a serious example of elder financial abuse.
Cortney Tucker, 35, of White Lake Township, was sentenced Wednesday in Oakland County after authorities said she used her legal access to her grandmother’s finances to secretly transfer large sums of money into her personal accounts.
According to prosecutors, Tucker stole more than $639,000 from her 85-year-old grandmother between October 2023 and February 2025. Investigators said she moved the money through the Zelle payment platform while acting under power of attorney, which gave her control over the victim’s financial accounts.
The court ordered Tucker to serve one year in prison, complete three years of probation, and repay $639,528 in restitution. Officials said she has already returned $150,000.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald called the case a painful betrayal involving a vulnerable senior citizen.
“This victim was wronged by a person she should have been able to trust,” McDonald said in a statement. “Sadly, financial exploitation of seniors by family members affects too many people. Seniors should speak up if they feel something is wrong. Ask another relative or trusted friend for help, or call the police.”
The case also highlighted the growing concern over financial crimes targeting elderly Americans, especially when trusted relatives have direct access to banking information and digital payment tools.
Tucker’s attorney, Neil Rockind, argued that his client’s actions were tied to a severe gambling addiction that spiraled out of control.
“Today’s sentencing brings an end to a sad and painful chapter in Ms Tucker’s life,” attorney Neil Rockind said in an email. “Deeply committed to her family and children, she found herself in the throes of a gambling addiction that overwhelmed her. With treatment, counseling and support, she overcame the addiction and attempted to put the pieces of her life and family back together. She is ready to tackle what lays ahead of her.”
Court records show Tucker was formally charged in October 2025 with embezzlement from a vulnerable adult. Under Michigan law, stealing more than $100,000 from a vulnerable person can carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
She later pleaded no contest in December 2025 and was released on her own recognizance before sentencing.
The judge also ordered Tucker to undergo treatment for mental health issues, substance abuse, and gambling addiction. Additional restrictions prohibit her from possessing firearms or other deadly weapons. She also cannot contact her grandmother, according to court records.
The sentencing closes a case that prosecutors say reflects a broader national issue: the financial exploitation of seniors by people within their own families.
Read More: Michigan Parents Charged in Infant Abuse Case After Severe Injuries Surface
