Lady Justice
Barbara Cavner, 66, of Lawton, Michigan, has been arraigned on charges of embezzling approximately $50,000 from her elderly aunt, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Cavner faces one count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult, a felony that carries penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $15,000 or three times the value of the stolen money, whichever is greater.
According to officials, Cavner served as her aunt’s attorney-in-fact, or durable power of attorney, after her aunt was admitted to an assisted care facility in Lawton in March 2021. From that time until October 2024, Cavner allegedly used large sums of her aunt’s money for personal expenses, including withdrawing cash, making purchases, and writing checks to herself.
“This case is another example of the exploitation of vulnerable adults, and we will continue to hold those who take advantage of older adults accountable,” said Attorney General Nessel.
Cavner is scheduled for a Probable Cause Conference on February 12, 2025, and a Preliminary Examination on February 18, 2025. She was released on a personal recognizance bond.
The case is being handled by the Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division, which is Michigan’s federally certified Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The division is supported by federal and state funds, including a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
