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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 31, 2024
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Scottville Woman Sentenced for Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult |
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LANSING – Yesterday, Jessica Englebrecht, 36, of Scottville, was sentenced by Judge Susan Sniegowski in the 51st Circuit Court in Oceana County to consecutive sentences and time-served amounting to a term of incarceration of 35 months to 7 years and $21,409 in restitution for embezzling thousands of dollars from vulnerable adults and other crimes, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
"Court appointed guardians and conservators should be held to the highest standards so that our elderly and vulnerable adults can trust the system meant to protect them,” said Nessel. “When they instead take advantage of the very people they’re entrusted to care for, my department and our Financial Crimes Division will see that they are held accountable.”
Englebrecht was found guilty by an Oceana County jury on September 14th of:
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Eight counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult - $1,000 or more but less than $20,000;
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One count of vulnerable adults – caregiver commingling funds/obstructing investigations;
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One count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult – $200 or more but less than $1,000; and
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One count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult – less than $200.
Michigan State Police began investigating Englebrecht in 2019 together with Adult Protective Services. Englebrecht was appointed as a guardian and/or conservator for the adults from 2017 to 2019 when she embezzled over $20,000 from 10 vulnerable adults she was appointed to protect, and additionally commingled her clients’ funds.
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