by: John Clore | 3/8/2025 at 2:49 PM

A former employee of Detroit’s Retirement System has been charged with embezzling more than $460,000 from pension funds intended for retired public workers, state officials announced.

Evette Byrd, 52, was arraigned in Wayne County Circuit Court on Wednesday, facing two felony charges:

  • Embezzlement of $100,000 or more (a 20-year felony)
  • Using a computer to commit a crime (also a 20-year felony)

Byrd, who worked at the Retirement System City of Detroit (RSCD), allegedly used her position to redirect funds from pensioners into pre-paid credit and debit cards, authorities say. The scheme reportedly targeted retirees without bank accounts, making it harder to trace the fraud.

Her next court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. Byrd’s attorney was not immediately available for comment.

State Attorney General: “A Betrayal of Public Trust”

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel condemned the alleged theft, emphasizing the impact on retirees who rely on their pensions for financial security.

“People employed by retirement systems are entrusted to protect retirement savings and ensure those funds are used as intended,” Nessel said. “My department remains committed to holding accountable those who steal from the savings of public servants.”

Authorities say Byrd was terminated in July after an investigation into an unrelated criminal matter led Michigan State Police detectives to the pension fund discrepancies. On July 3, 2023, investigators contacted RSCD, prompting immediate action by officials.

The criminal investigation is still ongoing, and authorities believe that hundreds of thousands of dollars may have been stolen.

Detroit’s Retirement System and the Impact on Pensioners

The Retirement System of the City of Detroit (RSCD) administers two major pension funds:

  • The General Retirement System, which holds $1.7 billion for about 11,000 retirees and 5,000 active city employees.
  • The Police and Fire Retirement System, with $2.7 billion designated for about 8,000 retirees and 3,000 active first responders.

A 10-member Board of Trustees oversees the general system, while a 16-member board governs the police and fire fund.

Officials from RSCD stated that upon learning of the investigation, they immediately acted to prevent any further fraudulent activity. They have pledged full cooperation with law enforcement.

“Upon learning of the investigation, the RSCD took immediate steps to abate any further fraudulent or unlawful actions,” the agency said in a statement.

Given the active nature of the investigation, RSCD officials have been asked by police to withhold further comment at this time.

 

A Growing Pattern of Embezzlement Cases in Michigan

Byrd is the latest Metro Detroit resident to be accused of embezzlement in recent weeks:

  • David White, a Union City man, was sentenced to four to 20 years in prison last week for stealing over $400,000 from a family trust.
  • Shelley Letzer, of West Bloomfield Township, was charged last month for allegedly embezzling more than $400,000 from a vulnerable adult.
  • Kirk Lanam, Letzer’s co-defendant, was also charged with embezzlement and is scheduled to appear in Rochester Hills’ 52-3 District Court on March 10.

With the rise of financial crimes targeting public funds, officials continue to urge stronger oversight and stricter safeguards to prevent pension fraud from robbing retirees of their hard-earned savings.

The investigation into Byrd’s case remains ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as prosecutors build their case.

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