FENTON, Mich.–The former CFO who allegedly stole $20 million from his credit union over a 12-year period could go free, depending on the outcome of a competency evaluation.
That news comes at the same time a GoFundMe campaign has been launched for the former CFO’s wife and three young daughters.
Michael Manley, attorney for Michael LaJoice, the former CFO at Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union, has asked the court to send his client to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry to a competency evaluation to determine if he understands the charges he faces and can properly assist his counsels.
LaJoice, 37, remains in jail and faces 14 counts of embezzlement, each of more than $1 million. He turned himself into the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department on Jan. 6, claiming to have embezzled more than $20 million.
At a probable cause hearing, Manley was asked about the process to determine competency and what would happen if LaJoice were found incompetent to assist with his case.
According to the Tri-County Times, Manley responded, “If a person is found to be incompetent to stand trial, he/she would receive treatment from the State’s Center for Forensic Psychiatry. The case would be put on hold until the defendant is found to be competent. In most cases, medication, counseling and other treatments render a defendant competent at some point in time during the process. Once a judge determines that a defendant is competent after a hearing, the case proceeds. If after 15 months an incompetent defendant is not made to be competent after treatment, the case is dismissed. This is rare and is mostly seen in severe cases of mental illness.”
Manley told the court he has received Notices of Intent to Forfeit Property as it relates to a number of properties and businesses that are owned by LaJoice.
As CUToday.info reported here, the credit union has since been placed into conservatorship and is being operated by NCUA.
Separately, the Tri-County Times reported that a GoFundMe account has been created for LaJoice’s wife, Ashleigh LaJoice, and their three children, called “Ashleigh’s 3 Little Ones.”