Michael Volpe Investigates Podcast the Impromptu: Episode 78 an Interview with Frank Raymond

Frank has been battling the probate mafia in Los Angeles County. He details in this episode.

Frank Raymond is my latest guest on the podcast.

Frank has been accused of doing many bad things to his mom, like mismanaging her properties and even embezzling from her.

The evidence of this alleged malfeasance amounts to unsubstantiated hearsay made by court appointees.

Frank told me that he believes that they are trying to remove him as property manager to take control of millions in real estate assets. Frank has had three forensic accountants examine his mother’s financial records and all three have found nothing wrong.

The most recent allegation comes from the guardian ad litem, Beti Bergman, who claimed in a motion that an accountant, Don Trojan, had examined financial records and stated, “It appears as though Frank has been appropriating funds for himself.”

Only Trojan never testified, never submitted an affidavit, or a declaration. I reached out to Trojan and Bergman and received no response.

Another allegation comes from David Berrent, who stated, “As expressed by Petitioner, Settlor’s concern was that her son, Frank Raymond, was not producing adequate income from various investments.”

The settlor is Frank’s mom, Klea Dole, who set up the trust now at issue in the 1990s. Klea, like Trojan, never testified to these allegations, and they were even made when she was considered incapacitated.

Even more odd, she was living with Frank when Berrent filed the motion.

Despite this flimsy evidence, Frank told me that he faces a May 2024 hearing where he may be removed as property manager of these multiple properties.

He is also a part owner, and he worries, he told me, what will happen with his ownership share.

Frank told me that a family squabble unleashed the underbelly of the probate system in Los Angeles County, California on his mother and family.

The Klea Dole Trust was formed in 1992. For almost three decades it ran smoothly and quietly with little interference, Frank told me.

Then, he and his sister got into a dispute and before everyone knew a long line of court appointees were appointed.

There was a trustee, a successor trustee, a conservator, and a guardian ad litem (GAL).

His mother was also placed into a conservatorship for dementia.

Most of these appointees were allowed to appoint an attorney; all of it at the cost of the trust itself.

Allowing court appointees to appoint a lawyer is a feature in many conservatorships or guardianships, as I discussed with Evan Nelson.

For years, this group of vultures have dragged the case out with no resolution.

Frank told me that friction between the GAL, Bergman, and his mother’s attorney, Mark Marmelstein, caused the latter to leave the case. Now, Bergman acts as his mother’s attorney, only she does not have her best interest at heart, he told me.

Bergman, he told me, has a habit of filing motions on the eve of hearings, like one she filed on September 27, 2022.

That was filed for a hearing the next day. The judge, Frank told me, repeatedly allows for Bergman’s motions to be heard on short notice, violating Frank’s due process rights.

The court appointees also aren’t negotiating in good faith, Frank said. Here is part of a letter that Frank’s attorney wrote.

Mr. Balous is Eugene Balous, Fran’s sister’s attorney, and he did not respond to an email for comment.

Frank told me that while Balous and Bergman stall on reaching a settlement they continue to accumulate billable hours.

Balous has often represented Donna Bogdanovich, Frank told me. Bogdanovich is a fiduciary currently charged with serious crimes.

A 64-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of bilking $2.5 million from her fiduciary clients, Los Angeles police said Monday, adding that investigators are seeking possible additional victims.

Investigators from the state Department of Justice and the Los Angeles Police Department Commercial Crimes Division arrested Donna Bogdanovich on Friday on suspicion of fraud, following a 14-month investigation.

She was being held in lieu of $850,000 bail, according to county jail records.

Police said Bogdanovich is a state-licensed fiduciary who managed special needs trusts and conservatorships involving the elderly and other adult dependents.

“Those clients relied upon her to provide fiduciary services,” police said in a statement. “Evidence showed that Bogdanovich transferred money from her victims to her personal account. This resulted in a collective loss of $2.5 million.”

The court appointees have blamed most of the problems with the conservatorship on Frank. For instance, Frank’s mother wanted Berrent removed as trustee in 2021, but Berrent argued this was merely due to Frank’s undue influence.

Frank told me that he moved his mom out of the retirement home and in with him because she was unhappy there, but the GAL, Beti Bergman, saw it another way. He only moved his mom into his house to exert influence over her.

All these court appointees didn’t know who Klea Dole was a few years ago, but now, they know what is best for her: just ask them.

Meanwhile, Frank has been her son his whole life, but he has been treated like a criminal with no evidence he’s committed any crime.