Probate attorney Sandra DeMeo faces allegations of embezzling $40,000 from the Flint Trust, creating significant financial distress for the affected family. Investigative reports indicate DeMeo wrote two unauthorized checks to herself from the trust, even after her official removal as trustee in February 2023. The Flint family has initiated legal proceedings against DeMeo under court case number 24STCV00317, but she has refused to return the allegedly misappropriated funds and remained silent regarding the accusations.
The situation has exposed concerning accountability gaps involving two major financial institutions. During Edward Jones's administration of the trust, the unauthorized checks were drawn from a BNY Mellon account associated with the trust. Both institutions, each managing over $1 trillion in assets, have deflected blame and failed to provide statements or take responsibility for rectifying the situation. Edward Jones promotes that clients will build personal connections with their financial advisor throughout the partnership, while BNY Mellon brands itself as Relentlessly Client-Focused. However, their inaction suggests these commitments may not extend to addressing alleged fraud within their systems.
Guillermo Saade, the financial advisor who assumed trust administration from Edward Jones in April, discovered the irregularities and attempted to seek resolution. The checks supposedly had fraud protections, yet it remains unclear which entity should take decisive action. This ambiguity leaves the Flint family bearing the financial burden while powerful institutions treat the $40,000 discrepancy as insignificant relative to their massive operations.
Compounding the situation, DeMeo—suspected of connections to the so-called 'OC Probate Mafia'—audaciously appeared in Orange County court seeking additional funds from the same trust she allegedly defrauded. This case raises critical questions about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in trust administration and whether financial giants prioritize client protection or operational convenience when fraud occurs within their networks.
