Daily Briefs

Attorney general: Investment scheme costs seniors $2M 

BAY CITY, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan woman has been charged after authorities said she took part in an investment scheme that defrauded senior citizens out of more than $2 million.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette on Monday announced charges against 39-year-old Shawn Dicken of Bay City, saying the fraud included nine victims and accusing Dicken of pocketing about $160,000. Dicken’s next court date is scheduled for Sept. 25.
 
Her lawyer, Jason P. Gower, told MLive.com his client is innocent and that he was disappointed about the decision to bring charges.

“She’s the whistleblower,” Gower said. “She had absolutely no motive to be involved in a criminal enterprise and she is absolutely innocent of these charges. She’s cooperated every step of the way. They needed a scapegoat because Joel Wilson fled.”

According to Schuette, the scheme was operated by Wilson, a Saginaw man who was charged in January and is considered a fugitive.

Dicken was employed starting in 2011 in sales for The Diversified Group Advisory Firm LLC, a former investment company, Schuette said, and during that time told senior citizens that potential investments were without risk and guaranteed an at least 9.5 percent rate of return. Charges brought against Dicken include conducting a criminal enterprise, embezzlement and fraudulent sales of securities.
 
 

Litigation training in the area of prisoner rights set for Oct. 30

 
The Pro Bono Committee of the Federal Bar Association and the Eastern District of Michigan will jointly present a Prisoner Rights Civil Litigation Training for pro bono attorneys and members of the Pro Bono Council on Oct. 30 from 8:30-2:30 p.m. in the Levin Courthouse, Room 115. Reply to Heidi Naasko, hnaasko@dykema.com by Oct. 28 at 5 p.m.  
 
The training is meant for litigators new to the area of prisoner rights who are willing to accept a pro bono appointment from the court.  You’ll not only learn about the applicable law and common practices, but tips and tricks applicable to working with judges in the Eastern District and how to interact with prison authorities to effectively represent your client.

Panelists will include leaders in this field, including local experts Clinical Professors Dan Manville and Paul Reingold of Michigan State University School of Law and University of Michigan School of Laws respectively, Valerie Newman of SADO  as well as local volunteer attorneys who have successfully completed prisoner rights cases. Lunch will be served courtesy of the court. 

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