Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Senior Crimes and Consumer Protection Unit Sets Record for Number of Cases Authorized

Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office
Contact: Dawn Fraylick, Communications Director
Office: +1 (586) 469-5737 
Cell: +1 (586) 842-4421                                           
Email: Dawn.Fraylick@macombgov.org                        

November 7, 2024

Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Senior Crimes and Consumer Protection Unit Sets Record for Number of Cases Authorized

Macomb County, MI — The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Senior Crimes and Consumer Protection Unit has achieved exceptional efficiency in processing warrant requests and prosecuting those who prey on our seniors with schemes and financial crimes.

Currently, the Senior Crimes and Consumer Protection Unit has only five pending warrant requests, a remarkable improvement from previous years when requests for senior and consumer charges often accumulated before Lucido took office.

"Thanks to the relentless dedication of our Senior Crimes and Consumer Protection Unit, we’ve achieved a level of efficiency that is truly unprecedented. We’re ensuring that seniors and those suffering from consumer crimes get the justice they deserve without delay. These are some of our most vulnerable community members, and we’re committed to standing up for them, holding offenders accountable, and bringing them the peace of mind they deserve," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.

The Senior Crimes and Consumer Protection Unit, staffed by two dedicated assistant prosecuting attorneys, handles a wide range of cases. These include misdemeanors punishable by up to 93 days in jail, as well as serious felonies such as Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult of $100,000 or more, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

From January to October 2024, the Unit authorized 298 charges, continuing an upward trend in the number of warrant requests approved. This follows 309 charges authorized in 2023, a significant increase from 85 in 2022, 55 in 2021 and only 40 in 2020.

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has also launched a proactive initiative to protect seniors from scams. Prosecutor Lucido and his team are providing seniors with the critical information and resources they need to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes. The initiative includes in-person presentations by Prosecutor Lucido and the "S.C.A.M.S. Stopping Crimes Against Macomb Seniors" booklet. These valuable  S.C.A.M.S. booklets will be available at the upcoming Senior Expo USA in Warren on Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave., Warren, MI 48092. The Expo will feature numerous local organizations dedicated to assisting seniors and their families in Warren and the surrounding communities. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with experts on a wide range of topics, including Medicare coverage, assisted living, mobility solutions, veterans benefits, legal assistance, financial planning, and much more.

For more information about SCAM awareness presentations and details on upcoming events, please visit https://macombgov.org/scams.

If you would like to schedule a Senior S.C.A.M.S. awareness presentation for your group or organization, please contact Heather Esposito at (586) 469-5642 or at heather.esposito@macombgov.org.

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