MACOMB COUNTY, MI— An Ontonagon man has been sentenced for embezzling funds from an elderly woman while acting as her power of attorney.
In September, Richard Filbey, 62, pleaded to one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult—$100,000 or more and one count of tax fraud.
He began acting as power of attorney for the 86-year-old woman in 2018. He caused her to surrender two of her annuities – one for $253,194.83 and one for $27,696.70 – and used the funds for his own enrichment.
Filbey also sold property the victim owned in Lapeer and used the proceeds for himself. None of the funds were reported on his Michigan tax returns.
Filbey was sentenced to two years in prison. He agreed to pay more than $280,000 in restitution.
Filbey transferred three parcels of property to the victim’s estate. The sale of those properties and distribution of the proceeds will now be overseen by the probate court to go towards restitution.
