Chapter 12 - THE TRUST AUDIT
The review took four months.
Commonwealth did not accuse Marcus of stealing every questionable dollar.
Some expenses were legitimate.
Some poorly documented.
Some overallocated.
Some ineligible.
Final determination:
Approximately $412,000 required reimbursement or offset against Marcus’s future allowable household reimbursements.
Helena was personally responsible for another $86,000 in expenses tied to staff and events that should never have been charged to Elsie’s trust support.
No criminal embezzlement charge.
Why?
Intent was mixed.
Trustees had approved many requests based on incomplete descriptions.
Marcus cooperated.
Money was recoverable.
The bank referred certain matters to counsel, but the final resolution remained civil and fiduciary.
Marcus sold his restaurant interest.
Took a loss.
Used proceeds to repay the trust.
Helena sold a parcel of investment property.
Paid her share.
The Maldera empire survived.
May you like
Good.
A child’s support money returned where it belonged.
