Warren, Roseville, St. Clair Shores

Hearing delayed in trust fund embezzlement case

By Brian Louwers
C & G Staff Writer

WARREN — An attorney charged with stealing $389,000 from a trust fund left for the boys of his father’s deceased business acquaintance had nothing to say to reporters as he walked out of court after the case was adjourned March 5.

Robert Buschmohle of St. Clair Shores, 39, was arraigned in February on a felony embezzlement charge that could put him in jail for 20 years.

Investigators alleged Buschmohle was the sole trustee of a $500,000 living trust established for the sons of his father’s longtime business acquaintance.

Ilona Mossop, the mother of two of the three boys, said previously that her late ex-husband, Derek Tate, created the fund to care for his children shortly before he died of cancer in 2007. She said the family became suspicious about the funds last year when her eldest son, Stephen Tate of Warren, now 20, turned 19 and they began asking about payments.

Mossop said Buschmohle grew increasingly difficult to reach, and that she asked the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission to investigate. Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said in a statement last month that the commission turned the case over to the Warren Police Department. Investigators sought authorization of a criminal charge after it was determined that Buschmohle allegedly embezzled $389,000, including $197,450 that was electronically transferred from the trust fund to his own personal account.

Buschmohle, who had operated a private law practice in Roseville, was arraigned before Judge John Chmura Feb. 5. Attorney Andrea Ferrara filed a limited appearance on his behalf at the time but was back in court for the scheduled preliminary examination before Judge Jennifer Faunce March 5.

At the agreement of Macomb prosecutors, Ferrara requested an adjournment to review a “voluminous” amount of evidence in the case and the matter was rescheduled for 8:45 a.m. April 2 in Faunce’s courtroom.

Ferrara offered no comment on behalf of her client after the hearing was adjourned.

Buschmohle remains free on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Brian Louwers at brianlouwers@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1089.