A former Pennsylvania funeral home director has been accused of stealing more than $250,000 from elderly clients who thought they were purchasing insurance or paying funeral costs.
Stephen Kezmarsky III has been charged with 84 felony counts, including insurance fraud, theft and forgery. Authorities allege that he victimized at least 51 people.
According to Pittsburgh’s Channel 4, customers gave Kezmarsky money for prepayment of funeral costs or for funeral insurance. Instead of using the money for those, he allegedly funneled it into his own accounts for his personal benefit.
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Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro told Channel 4 that Kezmarsky spent his victim money “at local restaurants and gas stations. He actually used some of the money on airfare. He even used some of it at Pennsylvania liquor stores.”
Fayette County, Pa., resident John Knapp, 94, told Channel 4 that he was out $30,000 because of Kezmarsky’s scam.
“We will be relentless in seeking restitution for the victims of Kezmarsky’s criminal acts,” Shapiro said. “We will hold him accountable.”
