Jun. 11, 2018
Legislation would help prevent cases like those seen in local insurance fraud case
UNIONTOWN – Rep. Matt Dowling (R-Fayette/Somerset) is developing legislation that he will introduce in the House of Representatives to address the management of escrow accounts controlled by funeral directors and hold them accountable for any actions that they take with that money. This legislation would help prevent or punish cases like those seen in the ongoing trial in Dowling’s district in which a funeral director allegedly misused funds given to him by clients paying for his services.
“Seeing the hardship this simply horrible action has had on my constituents, I am developing legislation that would hold dishonest funeral directors more accountable for their actions and require audits of escrow accounts,” Dowling stated. “Citizens in our Commonwealth should not have to worry about their money being fraudulently used, especially when making arrangements for a loved one whom they have lost.”
Authorities have filed charges against funeral director Stephen E. Kezmarsky III on behalf of more than 82 clients who had pre-paid for their funerals from October 2010 to March 2017. He is accused of taking approximately $528,770 from mostly elderly clients for his personal use. Kezmarsky is criminally charged with more than 170 offenses, which include theft by deception and insurance fraud.
An additional funeral director from Bucks County has been brought up on similar charges after he allegedly stole approximately $297,000 in pre-paid funeral funds from 54 clients dating back to 1999.
Representative Matthew Dowling
51st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abby Krueger
717.260.6617
akrueger@pahousegop.com
RepDowling.com /
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