Court Watching: Judge Van Houten sets White’s trial to begin Nov. 3

By Diane Madigan
Independent Court Reporter
Last week, disbarred Belleville attorney Thomas A. White, 46, appeared twice in Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit in connection with two criminal cases, totaling 20 felony charges.
When it was over, he ended up with a new judge to handle his cases and a trial date of Nov. 3.
On Wednesday, April 30, White appeared with his attorney Volha Yermalenka in Judge James R. Chylinski’s courtroom for a disposition conference.
Yermalenka, who was standing in for attorney Michael Vincent, passed the Michigan Bar in October and was licensed with the State of Michigan Bar Association in November.
Seated at the prosecutor’s table, Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Daniel Williams quietly asked Yermalenka to tell him what she wanted. While Yermalenka spoke, Williams kept shaking his head “No.”
Williams and Yermalenka followed Judge Chylinski into his chambers for a private conference. When the parties returned, Judge Chylinski said there was a lot to work on.
“We will blind draw this to a trial judge and give this case a home,” he said and then drew for a judge.
A calendar conference was scheduled for May 2 with Judge Margaret Van Houten.
At White’s calendar conference on Friday, Yermalenka again stood in for Michael Vincent as White’s attorney.
On the way to the bench for a discussion, Assistant Prosecutor Williams told Judge Van Houten, “We need a long time. This is a Criminal Enterprise.”
After a 20-minute conference, Judge Van Houten explained that both parties agreed there were some very difficult discovery issues, voluminous documents, and there would be 50-60 witnesses, if the cases go to trial.
Judge Van Houten said at the Circuit Court level a strict 91-day track to trial is maintained. Williams said there is a considerable amount of amount of money involved here.
“We have [three] five-inch binders of bank records and both parties will need to use forensic accountant,” Judge Van Houten said. “Neither party can do this within 91 days.”
Judge Van Houten set the trial date for Nov. 3 and said a two-to-three-week trial will be needed.
The attorney for the defendant and the prosecutor agreed there would be no adjournments or postponing of the trial date. All motions are due on Aug. 1 with a final conference on Aug. 8.
At Williams’ request, Judge Van Houten agreed to consolidate the two cases into a single case going forward.
Official charges in the first case, filed Sept. 6, are uttering and publishing, larceny by conversion – $20,000 or more, embezzlement, and two counts of identity theft.
In White’s second case, which was filed Dec. 18, charges are one count of conducting a criminal enterprise and 14 additional counts of embezzlement.
White is accused of stealing an estimated $11 million from widows, families, and estate beneficiaries.