Crime & Safety
Woman Accused of Embezzling From Trust Fund
Police say a then-Oak Creek resident was put in charge of a man's education fund but spent all of the cash before he saw any of it.
A 54-year-old Union Grove woman is accused of embezzling $27,000 in funds left from her dad's estate meant for a young man's education.
Suzanne J. Nelson was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Wednesday with one count of embezzlement. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint:
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In 2006, Nelson, at the time an Oak Creek resident, was named a trustee of a trust fund set up by her dad to pay for a young man's education until he turned 25 years old.
Although her relationship to the victim is unclear in the complaint, Nelson instead opened up a bank account with the $27,302 from the trust, then began paying off debts and writing checks to herself.
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She spent $28,000 from the account, causing it to go into negative balance and then get shut down in 2008.
The victim turned 25 in June and only got two $2,500 payments from Nelson for his education. When he contacted her about the balance, Nelson said there was $27,000 in the trust, but didn't provide proof.
She will make her initial appearance in court Dec. 28.
