Melissa Dondero,
CPA, CIA, CIG, CIGA, CIGI, CITP, CRMA, CFS, CECFE Inspector General/Chief Audit Executive Investigative Team Ava Sadowska, CIA, CIG, CIGA, CIGI, CFE, CFS, CECFE, CCA – Assistant Inspector General James Nassiri, CIGI, CIGA, CECFE – Inspector General II Jason Steckle, CIGI, CFE, CECFE – Inspector General II Alan Weistock – Inspector General II Lori Scott – Inspector General I
INVESTIGATION OF FORMER PROFESSIONAL
GUARDIAN TRACI HUDSON
DIVISION OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Ken Burke, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Pinellas County, Florida
REPORT NO. 2022-20 NOVEMBER 10, 2022
November 10, 2022 Honorable Judge Pamela Campbell, Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Honorable Judge James Stearns, Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit Court The Division of Inspector General’s Public Integrity Unit has completed an investigation of Traci Bryanton Hudson (Hudson), also known as Traci Samuel, a former professional guardian (former guardian). The investigation encompassed a complete review of 45 guardianship cases assigned to Hudson during her tenure as a professional guardian from March 2, 2016, to November 19, 2019. The Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Probate and Guardianship Division (Court), had concerns about the care and well-being of the person and property of Persons Subject to Guardianship (PSTG), and appointed the IG:
“To investigate the actions of the former guardian, Traci Hudson AKA Traci Samuel concerning the ward’s finances, medical care, and any other issue that affects the ward’s welfare and best interests.”
This investigative report is a summary of a comprehensive examination of the 45 guardianship cases assigned to Hudson. The allegation that Hudson’s actions resulted in misuse of the PSTGs’ finances and affected the PSTGs’ welfare and best interests was
Substantiated
. To determine whether the Court concerns were substantiated, we analyzed over 2,000 guardianship documents, including court and bank records, and interviewed parties with knowledge of the facts. Our investigation was performed according to the
Principles and Standards for Offices of Inspector General
and
The Florida Inspectors General Standards Manual
from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
Clerk of the County Court Recorder of Deeds Clerk and Accountant of the Board of County Commissioners Custodian of County Funds County Auditor
Division of Inspector General
510 Bay Avenue Clearwater, FL 33756 Telephone: (727) 464-8371 Fax: (727) 464-8386 Fraud Hotline: (727) 45FRAUD (453-7283)
Clerk’s website: www.mypinellasclerk.org
Ken Burke, CPA
C
LERK OF THE
C
IRCUIT
C
OURT AND
C
OMPTROLLER
P
INELLAS
C
OUNTY
,
F
LORIDA
Honorable Judge Pamela Campbell, Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Honorable Judge James Stearns, Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit Court November 10, 2022
The Division of Inspector General uses the following terminology for the conclusion of fact/finding(s):
•
Substantiated
– An allegation is substantiated when there is sufficient evidence to justify a reasonable conclusion that the allegation is true.
•
Unsubstantiated
– An allegation is unsubstantiated when there is insufficient evidence to either prove or disprove the allegation.
•
Unfounded
– An allegation is unfounded when it is proved to be false or there is no credible evidence to support it. We appreciate the cooperation shown by the successor guardians and all other individuals we contacted during the course of this investigation
.
Respectfully Submitted, Melissa Dondero Inspector General/Chief Audit Executive cc: Honorable Judge Sherwood Coleman, Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit Keela Samis, General Magistrate, Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Probate, and Guardianship Division Bama Tearney, General Magistrate, Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Probate, and Guardianship Division Ken Burke, CPA, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller