CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: A former Chicago judge, Patricia Martin, will lose her law license after confessing to embezzling over $240,000 from her decorated World War II veteran uncle, purportedly to invest in cryptocurrency, as reported by CBS Chicago.
Martin stands accused of diverting funds entrusted to her by her uncle, Oscar Wilkerson Jr, and his power of attorney, during the time when the esteemed Tuskegee Airman was in a nursing home.
The legal action resulted in Martin consenting to disbarment, as documented in court records filed with the Illinois Supreme Court on September 21.
What did Patricia Martin do?
Patricia Martin, who had a 24-year tenure as a Circuit Judge in the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois before retiring in 2020, openly confessed to embezzling her uncle Oscar Wilkerson Jr's life savings in June.
According to official records, on December 5, 2022, Martin responded to the complaint against her by admitting that she had wrongfully taken control of Wilkerson's assets.
She acknowledged that she had no legal authority to utilize his funds for any purpose other than his benefit, and she intentionally withheld funds to which he was rightfully entitled.
Who was Oscar Wilkerson Jr?
Oscar Wilkerson Jr, a native of Chicago Heights, embarked on a remarkable journey that began with his enlistment in the renowned civil rights aviators known as the Tuskegee Airmen in 1944, according to Amry Reserve.
This civil rights trailblazer stood among the pioneering black military pilots who bravely fought for the United States during World War II. Upon his return to Chicago, Wilkerson transitioned into a career as a radio DJ.
Remarkably, he held the distinction of being the last known surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen in Chicago before his death in 2022, as reported by ABC7.
In recognition of his extraordinary service and contributions, President George W Bush honored Wilkerson with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007, a testament to his enduring legacy and the impact of his achievements.
Was Patricia Martin in charge of Oscar Wilkerson Jr's finances?
Dr. Maceo Ellison, Wilkerson's friend and authentic power of attorney, had initially entrusted Martin with managing the elderly veteran's financial affairs.
It was only when he discovered the illicit use of funds that the fraud came to light.
The former judge was responsible for overseeing Wilkerson's bank accounts, 401k, and social security accounts.
Suspicion arose when Brookdale Senior Living, the nursing home where Wilkerson resided, contacted Ellison in July 2022, asserting that Martin had failed to pay for Wilkerson's care for two months.
Additionally, one of Wilkerson's bank accounts displayed an outstanding debt of "more than $41,000".
In response to this alarming development, Ellison and Wilkerson enlisted attorney Eric Puryear to investigate Martin's handling of the elderly citizen's finances.
This inquiry led to the discovery of the substantial sum of missing funds which caused Wilkerson to file a lawsuit before his death.
Martin acknowledged that the available evidence would undeniably and convincingly establish the facts and conclusions of her misconduct, as documented in records.
When did Patricia Martin’s veteran uncle die?
Tragically, Wilkerson passed away in February, one day before his 97th birthday, but not before he initiated a lawsuit against Martin in September 2022.
The state's legal disciplinary body presented evidence that the disgraced judge had invested over $110,000 in cryptocurrency using her uncle's money, with transactions made in her name and documented by receipts.
In June, Martin was ordered to reimburse her uncle's estate $1.1 million, three times the amount she had stolen, as she repeatedly failed to appear in court and disregarded court orders, as indicated in official records.
However, Martin argued against repaying the money to her uncle's estate, citing his death as a reason.
Her lawyer asserted, "The plaintiff’s death suspends the court’s jurisdiction in this matter," as reported by CBS.
