Guardian Accused Of Stealing Half Million Dollars From Estate

RIVERVIEW, FL — Following a year-long investigation, Pinellas County Sheriff's detectives have arrested a Riverview woman accused of stealing more than half a million dollars from the estate of an elderly man following his death.

Detectives began their investigation in November 2018 after they were notified by the Florida Department of Children and Families' Adult Protection Division.

Traci Hudson, 51, of Charmwood Drive in Riverview has worked as a professional guardian since 2016, acting on behalf of court-appointed wards through her business, Florida Guardianship Services Inc. She also serves as the president of the Guardian Association of Pinellas County.

In November 2017, Hudson was introduced to 92-year-old Maurice Myers after the death of his daughter, who had been handling Myers' finances. Detectives say, after the introduction, Hudson, through Power of Attorney, became the court-appointed representative for Myers' daughter's estate.

When Myers died in October 2018, Hudson assumed the role of his guardian as well although she wasn't officially appointed to the role. As a result, her financial transactions involving Myers' estate weren't monitored by the court system.

Detectives discovered that, over 11 months, she transferred $541,541.12 from Myers' account to her own.

On Thursday, Hudson was arrested and charged with one count of exploitation of an elderly person over $50,000, a first-degree felony. Her bond is set at $250,000.