LANSING — An Ontonagon man has been charged with embezzling more than a quarter of a million dollars from an elderly woman in downstate Macomb County.

Richard Filbey, 61, was arraigned before Judge Jennifer A. Andary in the 42-1 District Court in Romeo on five felony charges for embezzling more than $275,000 from an elderly woman while acting as her power of attorney, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday. Filbey is charged with three counts of embezzlement and two counts of filing false tax returns.

According to the release, Filbey began acting as power of attorney in 2018 for the 86-year-old victim. During that time, the state alleges he caused her to surrender two of her annuities –one for $253,194.83 and one for $27,696.70 — and used all the funds for his own enrichment. Filbey also sold property the victim owned in Lapeer and allegedly used the proceeds for himself. The state says none of the funds were reported by Filbey as income on his Michigan tax returns.

“Many vulnerable adults require agents to manage their finances and most people who perform those duties do so with integrity,” Nessel said. “But when fiduciaries put their own interests above those of the people they are charged with protecting, my office will hold them accountable.”

Filbey is being charged with one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult of $100,000 or more; one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult of $20,000 to $50,000; one count of embezzlement by an agent of $20,000 to $50,000; and, two counts of making/permitting the filing of false tax returns.

Filbey is expected to appear in district court for a probable cause conference on Sept 19.