A former Tuscaloosa County conservator has been ordered to reimburse more than $100,000 of unwarranted and undocumented expenditures she made from the accounts of 17 people.
As the county’s conservator, Zondra Hutto was responsible for the finances of elderly people who were unable to manage their affairs. Hutto resigned from her position after she pleaded guilty to a federal charge of not reporting the crimes of an employee.
Hutto’s law clerk, Brian Lunceford, has been accused of using credit cards belonging to one of Hutto’s wards to buy clothing, a designer purse, gas and a trip to Mexico. Hutto pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony because she knew about the charges Lunceford allegedly racked up. She is scheduled to begin a three-month federal prison sentence in January.
Since Hutto resigned as conservator for about 30 people in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court, the wards’ newly- appointed guardians have scrutinized the final accounting she submitted in the cases. They have found that Hutto overcharged their accounts and kept sloppy records.
Circuit Judge Brad Almond has presided over court hearings in many of the cases and has ordered Hutto to reimburse $110,008 of unwarranted and undocumented expenditures to 17 wards. She will likely owe more once the remaining cases go before Almond in November.
Full Article and Source:
Audits Show Conservator Mismanaged Ward’s Cases
October 27, 2011 at 1:10 pm |
Nothing new here, pretty standard operating procedure-submit any kind of report to the court and have it approved without question. Will be interesting to watch and see if she is ever held accountable for her actions, and if the court takes any responsibility for failing to oversee…..
October 27, 2011 at 2:13 pm |
Criminal charges?????????Jail time?????????
October 27, 2011 at 6:29 pm |
Now, who will refer Zondra Hutto and her crimes to the State prosecutors? Repay the stolen money then what? It's a miracle Zondra Hutto was caught in the act because who is watching the conservators?
October 27, 2011 at 8:01 pm |
Another one caught – after how many complaints?
October 27, 2011 at 9:40 pm |
Mismanaged? Come on! It's out-and-out theft! And sure, the judge is just as guilty.
October 28, 2011 at 11:17 am |
The woman is a criminal. Look on her MySpace page, and you will see her with her 29 year old co-accused enjoying New Year in Tokyo..! How many poor old people paid for that trip. Long term prison is needed.
October 28, 2011 at 6:15 pm |
Three months in prison is a joke for this thief. Perhaps the inmates will make sure that she enjoys it. Three years would be more appropriate.
October 28, 2011 at 6:16 pm |
People like her should be hung out to dry.
October 28, 2011 at 6:19 pm |
Possibly more will be found out when her "partner" goes to court. He will likely say that she taught him all he knew. They should both be sent to jail for a long time. Living by defrauding vulnerable people just makes them scum.
October 29, 2011 at 12:46 pm |
Does this awful woman have any family? How would they feel if some devious thief defrauded their Mom..?
October 29, 2011 at 7:14 pm |
Make an example of this woman. Otherwise other parasite lawyers will think that they can just profit from vulnerable people.She is just scheming thief. Trying to pass the blame on to an employee makes her even more of a criminal. Long term prison is needed.
November 6, 2011 at 9:06 pm |
Make an example of this woman. People who pose as caring for vulnerable people, while stealing their money, should be put in jail for a long time. MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF THIS THIEF.
November 8, 2011 at 9:57 pm |
Three months in prison is not remotely enough. This person needs to be hung out to dry.
November 20, 2011 at 2:57 pm |
If this evil person is due to appear in court again in November, surely her prison time should be extended. Three months is a farce.
January 12, 2012 at 2:14 am |
There are other victims. What about their other belongings that are not traceable?…jewels ..