Retired Judge Accused of Stealing From Tuskegee Airman

Patricia Martin allegedly used funds meant for her elderly uncle to buy bitcoin for herself

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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A retired judge in Chicago, Patricia Martin, is accused of stealing over $245,000 from her elderly Tuskegee Airman uncle, Oscar Lawton Wilkerson, and using the money to purchase bitcoin for herself. Martin, who had power of attorney over Wilkerson's finances, allegedly made numerous withdrawals from his accounts over an 18-month period and shut down the accounts, leaving Wilkerson's nursing home unpaid and at risk of eviction. Wilkerson's family members discovered the theft and filed a lawsuit, leading to a $1.2 million judgment against Martin, though she later appealed and had the judgment overturned after Wilkerson's death.

Why it matters

This case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals, even those with seemingly trustworthy caretakers, to financial exploitation. It also raises concerns about the use of cryptocurrency to conceal stolen funds. The story underscores the importance of close oversight and accountability for those entrusted with managing the finances of the elderly and vulnerable.

The details

Court records show that Patricia Martin, a retired judge who had power of attorney over her Tuskegee Airman uncle Oscar Lawton Wilkerson's finances, allegedly made 11 withdrawals over an 18-month period, shutting down Wilkerson's accounts and pocketing more than $245,000. Martin then moved most of the stolen funds into hard-to-track bitcoin. Wilkerson's family members, including his longtime friend Eric Puryear, discovered the theft when Wilkerson's nursing home called to say his bills had gone unpaid for months, putting him at risk of eviction.

  • In August 2020, the nursing home where Wilkerson was living called to say they had not been paid in months, and $41,000 was owed immediately.
  • Over an 18-month period from 2019 to 2020, Martin allegedly made 11 withdrawals from Wilkerson's accounts.

The players

Patricia Martin

A retired judge who had power of attorney over her Tuskegee Airman uncle Oscar Lawton Wilkerson's finances and is accused of stealing over $245,000 from him and using the money to buy bitcoin for herself.

Oscar Lawton Wilkerson

A Tuskegee Airman and World War II veteran who trusted his niece Patricia Martin to manage his finances in his old age.

Eric Puryear

A longtime friend of Wilkerson who discovered the theft and filed a lawsuit on Wilkerson's behalf to try to recover the stolen funds.

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What they’re saying

“Every box for trustworthiness seemed to be checked there, and so she seemed to be the perfect person. She seemed like the perfect person on paper. In hindsight, she was not.”

— Eric Puryear, Wilkerson's longtime friend (CBS News Chicago)

“It makes me wonder what is wrong in Patricia's heart that she would do that to somebody.”

— Eric Puryear, Wilkerson's longtime friend (CBS News Chicago)

What’s next

Wilkerson's loved ones are planning to file another lawsuit to try to recover the money Martin allegedly stole, continuing their fight to get back the funds.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of close oversight and accountability for those entrusted with managing the finances of the elderly and vulnerable, as well as the risks of using cryptocurrency to conceal stolen funds. It underscores the need for stronger protections and more severe penalties to deter financial exploitation of the elderly.