Former executives of the Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery in Queens have been ordered to pay back more than $1.6 million after an investigation by the New York Attorney General's office uncovered evidence of financial mismanagement. According to an announcement by Attorney General Letitia James, the recovered funds from former leaders, including Daniel Austin Sr. and Anthony Mordente, are part of an effort to restore and maintain the historic cemetery, now under new management, as reported on the Attorney General's official website. The funds are intended to make amends for the period during which Austin Sr., as president, and Mordente, in various leadership roles, allegedly treated the nonprofit cemetery's coffers as their own.
The cemetery, which has existed for nearly 150 years, has become the final resting place for over half a million New Yorkers. Under Austin Sr.'s tenure, which began in 1990, the cemetery saw a sharp decline in conditions, with reports of damaged stones and dilapidated facilities. According to a statement from Attorney General James on the official website, "No one deserves to have their final resting place desecrated by mismanagement and greed." She described the actions of Austin and Mordente as a dishonor not only to the deceased but also to the families who trusted the cemetery with their loved ones’ remains.
Attorney General James' office, after filing a lawsuit in September 2019 against seven long-term board members, found that Austin and Mordente had extracted a significant sum under the guise of a retirement payout for Austin, Sr., in addition to his continued remuneration as a consultant. Daniel Austin, Jr., the son of Austin, Sr. and successor as president, also diverted funds for bonuses, which were repaid by his father without interest or acknowledgement of fault. Visitors, amidst this period of financial exploitation, were faced with the increasing disrepair that their loved ones' gravesites fell into.
As part of the settlement, the former leaders will return substantial amounts with Austin, Sr. relinquishing nearly a million dollars and Mordente contributing $585,000. Both men are also permanently barred from serving in a financial management capacity within New York's nonprofit sphere. The restoration of funds, including additional settlement money from other directors involved in the lawsuit, totals an approximate $1.672 million, all of which is slated for direct reinvestment into the cemetery's upkeep. With its grounds in shambles, the cemetery serves as a stark reminder of the damage inflicted by those entrusted with the care of such an enduring community landmark.
The case was handled by a dedicated team within the Charities Bureau of the New York Attorney General's office, bringing to light the lengthy misuse of charity assets for personal gain. In an effort to right past wrongs, this recovery is a crucial step in honoring the memory of the countless New Yorkers laid to rest there, ensuring the venerable cemetery’s preservation for generations to come.
