Oakland County Woman Steals More Than $600K From Grandmother: Prosecutor

WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP, MI — A White Lake Township woman will do jail time for stealing more than $600,000 from her 85-year-old grandmother, according to prosecutors.

Cortney Tucker, 35, was sentenced Wednesday to 365 days in jail and three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay back $639,528 in restitution for embezzlement.

Prosecutors noted that she has already returned $150,000 in restitution payments.

Prosecutors said Tucker had power of attorney that allowed her to access her grandmother's financial accounts.

Tucker pleaded no contest to a charge of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult, which is punishable in Michigan by up to 20 years in prison when the amount stolen is more than $100,000.

She used the Zelle money management app to transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars from her grandmother's account to her own between October 2023 and February 2025, prosecutors said.

"This victim was wronged by a person she should have been able to trust," McDonald said. "Sadly, financial exploitation of seniors by family members affects too many people. Seniors should speak up if they feel something is wrong. Ask another relative or trusted friend for help, or call the police."