Grosse Pointe Farms Lawyer Stole Millions From Carhartt Heiress: AG

GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI — A Grosse Pointe Farms lawyer could spend up to 60 years in prison after police said he stole millions of dollars from a well-known and wealthy client's trust.

David P. Sutherland, 57, was charged with one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise (a 20-year felony), two counts of Embezzlement of $100,000 or more (20-year felonies) and one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult - $100,000 or more (20-year felony), according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Sutherland was ordered to pay a $250,000 cash or surety bond, required him to surrender his passport, and ordered that he be issued a GPS tether. His next court date was scheduled for Jan. 25.

"Mr. Sutherland abused his authority as an attorney and trusted advisor to steal millions from a long-time client and must be held accountable," Nessel said. "Our elderly populations are particularly susceptible to financial exploitations, and my Financial Crimes Division is prepared to hold these bad actors accountable for such egregious and illegal violations of their client’s trust."

Officials said Sutherland used his position as the personal attorney and trustee for the late Gretchen Carhartt Valade, of Grosse Pointe Farms, to steal millions of dollars from her irrevocable trust, by issuing himself a series of loans without Valade’s permission.

Valade, the Carhartt heiress and philanthropist, died just over a week ago at age 97. Carhartt is an American clothing company that was founded in 1889, and is known for its heavy-duty working clothes such as the iconic Carhartt jacket.