Retired judge disbarred after stealing $240K from her World War II veteran uncle
A former judge was stripped of her law license after admitting to stealing thousands from her uncle, a WWII veteran.
Patricia Martin, a former Cook County judge, has been disbarred and is now facing potential criminal charges in connection with allegations of significant financial misconduct involving her elderly uncle. The Illinois Supreme Court took swift action, stripping Martin of her law license, effective immediately, following her admission of wrongdoing earlier this year.
Martin's uncle, Oscar Lawton Wilkerson, Jr., passed away on February 8, a day before his 97th birthday. He was a former Tuskegee Airman, one of the first African-American military aviators in the US Armed Forces, who fought in World War II.
The case revolves around a series of troubling accusations against Martin, dating back to June when she confessed to her misconduct. According to the court's Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, Martin intentionally misappropriated more than $240,000 (£197,000) that she had agreed to safeguard for her elderly relative, who was residing in a nursing home.
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The former Cook County judge admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from her uncle (CBS 2 Chicago)She also stands accused of making false statements to the physician holding her relative's power of attorney regarding bank and investment account balances. Additionally, Martin failed to comply with an ARDC subpoena, further complicating her legal predicament.
Patricia Martin had been a licensed attorney in Illinois since 1986 and served as a judge for 24 years, retiring as the top judge in Cook County's juvenile court system in 2020. However, her stellar career has now taken a dark turn due to these allegations.
The most serious allegations suggest that, in her capacity as her uncle's power of attorney, Martin diverted at least $246,203.80 (£201,840.00) of her uncle's funds without his authorization for personal use. It is claimed that she also converted some of these funds into cryptocurrency, maintaining exclusive control over these digital assets.
Martin served as a judge for 24 years and retired as the top judge in Cook County's juvenile court system (CBS 2 Chicago)A judge ordered Martin to repay her uncle's estate an astonishing $1.1 million (£901,000), reflecting three times the amount of the misappropriated funds. Her consistent failure to appear in court and adhere to court orders triggered an investigation by Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx's office.
In a significant development, Martin eventually admitted to her misconduct in an affidavit. She acknowledged that the evidence against her "clearly and convincingly establish[ed] the facts and conclusions of misconduct."
Despite Martin's admission of guilt, she has argued that she should not be required to repay the $1.1 million to her uncle's estate, citing her uncle's recent passing as grounds to suspend the court's jurisdiction in the matter. Legal experts suggest this argument may have merit.
Oscar Lawton Wilkerson, Jr. was a former Tuskegee Airman who fought in World War II (85th Support Command)
Patricia Martin had been a licensed attorney in Illinois since 1986 (casacookcounty.org)The Cook County State's Attorney's office and the Illinois Attorney General are actively investigating the case, raising the possibility of felony charges against Martin. Last month, it came to light that Martin faces new criminal charges from the Cook County State's Attorney's office related to court orders issued as recently as April, prohibiting her from moving her uncle's funds. Prosecutors allege that Martin continued to move funds, transferring money into Bitcoin, with evidence they claim substantiates these transactions.
Even with her former status as a judge, Martin finds herself entangled in a complex legal web. Her failure to comply with court orders has not gone unnoticed, leading the current judge overseeing the case to express frustration with her conduct. As investigations continue, signs indicate that more criminal charges could be forthcoming.
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