A former Huron County funeral home director was sentenced to seven to 20 years in prison after allegedly embezzling more than $1 million from prepaid funerals and funeral insurance policies, according to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.
Terry Kaufman, 72, of Bad Axe was sentenced Monday in Huron County’s 52nd Circuit Court to 85 to 240 months in prison. Kaufman also will have to pay $1.1 million in restitution to 204 victims.
Kaufman, who founded and operates Kaufman and Co. Funeral Home in Huron County, pleaded no contest in March to conducting a criminal enterprise, two counts of embezzling between $20,000 and $50,000, five counts of embezzling between $1,000 and $20,000 and 31 counts of conversion of funeral contracts.
“I am proud of the prosecutors in my office and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for securing this sentence and restitution for the hundreds of Michigan families impacted by this embezzlement scheme,” said Attorney General Dana Nessel. “When residents are prepaying for funeral arrangements, they shouldn’t have to worry about their hard-earned money being stolen. We remain committed to pursuing and prosecuting those who exploit Michiganders.”
Kaufman collected funds through the Huron County Public Guardian but did not properly put any of the funds in escrow, according to Nessel. He used the money for his own use, including paying his own salary, for 10 years, she said.
kberg@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan funeral director sentenced to 7-20 years in embezzlement case
Reporting by Kara Berg, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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