Former Cook County Judge Sentenced for Stealing from Tuskegee Airman
A former Cook County judge, Patricia Martin, has been sentenced to four years of probation after pleading guilty to theft of $100,000 to $500,000 from an elderly friend who served as a Tuskegee Airman. The judge also ordered Martin to pay $122,763.73 in restitution and comply with standard probation conditions, including random drug testing.
Martin, 66, who once presided over the Child Protection Division, retired in 2020. Prosecutors accused her of stealing nearly $250,000 from then-95-year-old Oscar Wilkerson, whose finances she controlled under power of attorney. Martin closed some of Wilkerson’s bank accounts and withdrew over $115,000, using the money to buy cryptocurrency.
Further investigations revealed that Martin continued making unauthorized transactions for crypto purchases and personal expenses through 2021 and most of 2022. The thefts came to light when Wilkerson’s senior living facility evicted him due to unpaid bills. An attorney examining his finances discovered the theft and filed a lawsuit against Martin in 2022, resulting in a default judgment of about $1.1 million.
Due to her previous position as a Cook County judge, Martin’s case was handled by McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis. Wilkerson passed away in 2023, a day before his 97th birthday. In the same year, Martin was disbarred.
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