Local Attorney, Wife Arrested for Stealing from Dying Man

A Bossier City couple has been arrested for carrying out a scheme to steal thousands of dollars and manipulate the sale of two homes for practically nothing from a dying man.

Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington says 67-year-old Michael Cox and his 66-year-old wife Sharon were arrested following a nearly-two-year investigation by the BSO into theft and money laundering.

Detectives discovered that Michael, acting as the attorney for one of his clients, made his wife the client's power of attorney in May 2012. Michael then drew up a will with Sharon as the heir to all the victim's belongings and disinheriting the victim's only child, who was a minor at the time.

Sharon then emptied out the victim's bank account, about $69,000 in unsubstantiated cash withdrawals above and beyond his bills. She also failed to pay other debt, like credit card bills, which added up to thousands of dollars in debt in charge-back fees, late fees and interest accumulation.

While the victim was hospitalized, Michael allegedly drew up two cash sale deeds, selling a home belonging to the victim in Rosedale subdivision in Bossier Parish and a home in Caddo Parish for $100 each to Sharon. The victim, through Sharon acting as his power of attorney, continued to pay the mortgage on the Rosedale home and taxes on the Caddo home after the sale.

Detectives say that shortly after the sales occurred, the victim began to reach out to different people complaining that he wanted to change his will and his power of attorney, because he believed that Sharon and Michael Cox were stealing from him. But he died before that could be completed.

In a civil suit filed on behalf of the victim's only child last month, Judge Jeff Cox -- who's not related to Michael or Sharon -- nullified the validity of the will and the cash sale deeds to Sharon. One of the reasons is because Michael Cox notarized the documents, and has never been a commissioned notary in the state of Louisiana, or anywhere else. He admitted that he knew that during the civil case.

Detectives also say Michael, a former doctor whose medical license was suspended several times in the 1980's for narcotics-related offenses, and Sharon Cox have also filed documentation with the Bossier Clerk of Court's Office declaring they are sovreign citizens and are not subject to federal income taxes.

Michael Cox is charged with felony theft, money laundering, and filing and maintaining false public records. Sharon Cox is charged with felony theft and money laundering. Both are free on bail.