An artistic representation of financial distress related to the embezzlement case in Detroit.
Evette Byrd, a 52-year-old woman from Detroit, has been charged with embezzling over $460,000 from the city’s Retirement System. Facing serious felony charges, Byrd allegedly used funds intended for pensioners. Many residents are concerned about the integrity of their retirement funds, while an investigation continues to uncover potential unaccounted amounts. Byrd awaits trial in March 2025, raising questions about trust in public service organizations.
Detroit, a city known for its resilience and strong community ties, is currently grappling with a shocking twist in its public service sector. A local woman, Evette Byrd, age 52, has found herself in serious trouble after being charged with embezzling over $460,000 from the City of Detroit’s Retirement System. This staggering amount has left many residents questioning how someone could take advantage of their positions in such a significant way.
Byrd is facing one count of embezzlement of $100,000 or more, a crime which, if convicted, could result in a hefty 20-year felony sentence. She is also looking at another serious charge involving the use of a computer to commit a crime, which carries the same potential penalty. It all started back in January 2025 when the Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, first announced the charges. According to reports, Byrd allegedly pocketed funds intended for pre-paid credit and debit cards meant for pensioners who didn’t have bank accounts. This is especially concerning, as many seniors rely on these funds for their daily necessities.
During her employment at the Retirement System City of Detroit (RSCD), where she was supposedly safeguarding the pensions of retirees, Byrd’s actions have sparked outrage. RSCD administers two significant pension funds that support approximately 11,000 retirees and 5,000 active city employees, along with another fund that backs around 8,000 retirees and 3,000 active first responders. With such a large amount of money at stake, authorities are now investigating if there are more disturbing revelations to come.
Following the initiation of an investigation by the Michigan State Police concerning unrelated criminal activity, Byrd was terminated from her position at RSCD in July 2024. The officials at RSCD took swift action upon learning about the potential embezzlement, ensuring that measures were put in place to prevent any further fraudulent actions. They are currently cooperating fully with law enforcement as the ability to account for all missing funds remains in question.
The investigation has revealed that authorities suspect several hundred thousand dollars may still be unaccounted for, raising alarm bells about the integrity of the retirement system. Residents are becoming increasingly anxious, wondering how much trust they can place in the systems that are supposed to protect their hard-earned money.
As Byrd awaits her trial, scheduled for March 5, 2025, she remains out on bond, which was initially set at $100,000. The courtroom drama is likely to follow as this high-profile case unfolds. With her being bound over to stand trial, many eyes will be on the Wayne County Circuit Court to see how justice will be served not just for Byrd, but for all those affected by her alleged misdeeds.
This situation isn’t the first of its kind in Metro Detroit. The area has witnessed other significant embezzlement cases, such as a man from Union City who was sentenced for swindling over $400,000 from a family trust, and a woman from West Bloomfield Township facing similar issues involving vulnerable adults. Each case seems to underline a troubling pattern, raising concerns over how such breaches of trust can occur within public service organizations.
As this case develops, residents of Detroit are encouraged to remain vigilant and informed about the workings of the organizations that serve them. Trust must be reinstated, and actions must be taken to ensure such events don’t happen again. With the community standing together, there’s hope for a stronger and more accountable future.
Union City Man Sentenced for Family Trust Embezzlement
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