Bay City woman convicted in $400K funeral fraud - WNEM TV 5

A woman whose mother owned funeral homes in and near Bay City has been convicted in the theft of more than $400,000 from customers who paid in advance for funeral services.

MLive.com reports (http://bit.ly/QH765z) a jury in Bay City on Wednesday convicted Erica C. Kaznowski on all eight counts, including conversion of prepaid funeral services, racketeering and conducting a criminal enterprise. She's free on bond until sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov. 26.

Kaznowski was a business manager of Stapish Cederberg Funeral Homes.

The Michigan Attorney General's office has said the $436,000 came from pre-paid funeral funds and insurance premiums of 89 customers from 2005 through 2011.

A message seeking comment was left by The Associated Press on Thursday with defense lawyer George C. Bush.

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