Terry Alvin Kaufman, 71, the director of Kaufman & Co. Funeral Home in Huron County, faces 39 felony charges for allegedly embezzling nearly $193,000 intended for prepaid funeral services. The Department of Attorney General says Kaufman failed to escrow the funds and used money from 55 victims for personal expenses, including his own salary, over the past decade.
Charges against Kaufman include conducting a criminal enterprise and conversion of funeral contracts. The total embezzled amount is $192,824.98, collected through the Huron County Public Guardian, according to the Department of Attorney General.
Kaufman is facing several felony charges, including one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, two counts of embezzlement by an agent involving $20,000–$50,000, five counts of embezzlement involving $1,000–$20,000, and 31 counts of conversion of funeral contracts. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “When families prepay for funeral services, they expect the funds to be handled with integrity, not siphoned off for personal gain.” Kaufman is scheduled to appear in Huron County's 73B District Court before Judge Julienne M. Ferris on December 4, as reported by the Department of Attorney General.
