Funeral Director's Money Lady Accused of Stealing From Dead
The company is being investigated on double billing allegations
Getty Images
A funeral director's bookkeeper is accused with stealing from the dead.
The bookkeeper for an East Hartford funeral director is accused of stealing from the dead.
Yolande Faulkner, 54, of Bolton, is accused of stealing valuables and cash from the homes of the dearly departed and was charged on Thursday with racketeering and larceny. On Friday morning, she appeared in court, where her bond was reduced from $500,000 to $250,000.
Details of Faulkner's arrest were not released and the chief state's attorney's office told the Hartford Courant only that it is investigating alleged thefts from dead people's homes and alleged double billing to the state by Kevin Riley's company.
Faulkner is a bookkeeper for Riley, who owns Hartford Trade Services in East Hartford. Riley has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing. He formerly owned the Coventry Funeral Home. She is due back in court on Nov. 13.
Police have also arrested Sherri Blews, 25, of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, who also worked at Riley’s funeral home, he lawyer said. She was arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged double billing the State of Connecticut for expenses related to the transport and burial of deceased people by Hartford Trade Service LLC of East Hartford.
She was charged with conspiracy to commit larceny and two other charges. Her bond was set at $15,000 and she is also due in court on Nov. 12.
The warrant was sealed because the investigation is continuing and police said additional arrests are expected.
The Courant reports that Faulkner's arrest comes more than two years after state probate officials contacted the chief state's attorney's office about Riley.
Riley had an exclusive contract with Hartford Trade Services to transport bodies to the state medical examiner's office. State probate officials grew concerned he was using that contract to have himself appointed administrator of the estates of people with no relatives, giving him access to money and property with little or no scrutiny.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Connecticut
Posted Friday, Oct 2, 2009 - 8:29 AM EST
Top Stories
