Kelli Bryant, the Pontiac mother accused of abandoning her three children to live alone for years, has pleaded no contest to three counts of Welfare Fraud, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed.
Bryant’s plea to all three counts as charged was made without any sentencing agreement or offer of leniency from the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
A review by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services found Bryant wrongfully received $29,397 in benefits between January 2022 and February 2025, allegedly collecting assistance meant for her children while not providing proper care.
Prosecutor Karen McDonald issued a statement following the plea:
“The resolution of the Welfare Fraud charges in no way impacts the case against Kelli Bryant on the more serious allegations of Child Abuse.”
“We fully intend to hold her accountable for the abuse these children suffered because of her alleged neglect.”
Following Monday’s plea, Judge Mary Ellen Brennan accepted an agreement requiring Bryant to serve probation and pay full restitution for the improperly obtained benefits. Bryant will return to court for sentencing on January 28, 2026, according to court records.
The welfare fraud plea does not affect the separate Child Abuse case, where Bryant still faces three counts of First Degree Child Abuse — charges that carry a potential maximum penalty of life in prison.
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