Last Thursday, David White, 68, of Union City, was sentenced by Judge Martha Anderson in Oakland County Circuit Court to 4 to 20 years’ incarceration after being found guilty by an Oakland County jury in November 2024 for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from a family Trust, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. He was found guilty of:
• One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise.
• Two counts of Embezzlement by an Agent/Trustee of $50,000 or More but Less Than $100,000.
• One count of Embezzlement by an Agent/Trustee of $1,000 or More but Less Than $20,000.
• Six counts of Taxes – Failure to File.
David White became the co-trustee of the John Stirling White Trust in 2014, upon the death of his father, John Stirling White. Though John White left behind several adult children, the assets held in the Trust were never distributed to the several beneficiaries due to ongoing litigation, and David White maintained control over the income, expenses, and access to financial records of the Trust.
“I am grateful to the prosecutors in my office for their diligent work and the family member who brought this case to our attention during our Elder Abuse Listening Tour, ultimately leading to charges being issued,” Nessel said. “The estates of departed loved ones deserve to be managed with respect, and my office will continue to hold accountable those who abuse this trust.”
David White was removed as co-trustee in 2019 by the probate court due to non-compliance with court orders to produce financial accountings for the Trust, and an investigation was subsequently conducted by the Department of Attorney General. The investigation revealed David White embezzled at least $400,000 from the Trust between 2014 and 2019.
A restitution hearing will be held on May 9, 2025.
• One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise.
• Two counts of Embezzlement by an Agent/Trustee of $50,000 or More but Less Than $100,000.
• One count of Embezzlement by an Agent/Trustee of $1,000 or More but Less Than $20,000.
• Six counts of Taxes – Failure to File.
David White became the co-trustee of the John Stirling White Trust in 2014, upon the death of his father, John Stirling White. Though John White left behind several adult children, the assets held in the Trust were never distributed to the several beneficiaries due to ongoing litigation, and David White maintained control over the income, expenses, and access to financial records of the Trust.
“I am grateful to the prosecutors in my office for their diligent work and the family member who brought this case to our attention during our Elder Abuse Listening Tour, ultimately leading to charges being issued,” Nessel said. “The estates of departed loved ones deserve to be managed with respect, and my office will continue to hold accountable those who abuse this trust.”
David White was removed as co-trustee in 2019 by the probate court due to non-compliance with court orders to produce financial accountings for the Trust, and an investigation was subsequently conducted by the Department of Attorney General. The investigation revealed David White embezzled at least $400,000 from the Trust between 2014 and 2019.
A restitution hearing will be held on May 9, 2025.
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