'Motivated By Abject Greed': Funeral Home Director Going To Prison For Ripping Off Elderly Customers
UNIONTOWN (KDKA) -- A Fayette County funeral director is going to prison after pleading guilty to ripping off elderly customers.
Stephen Kezmarsky, 51, the owner of Kezmarsky Funeral Home in Uniontown, has been sentenced to eight years in prison and 20 years of probation.
Last October, Kezmarsky pleaded guilty to charges of theft and forgery.
In total, he entered a guilty plea for 172 counts. Investigators say he stole more than $500,000.
Fayette county judge Steve P. Leskinen sentences Disgraced Uniontown funeral director Stephen Kezmarsky to up to 8 years in state prison and 20 years of probabtion. pic.twitter.com/667prTHiAy
— Ross Guidotti (@RossGuidotti) February 25, 2020
The prosecution says he used that money to on things like airfare and alcohol.
At Tuesday's sentencing hearing, Kezmarsky took the stand, apologizing. He told the court that he's not "a bad person, just a bad businessman."
Kezmarsky pleaded guilty to 172 counts of ripping off customers to the tune of 500-Thousand dollars.
Prosecution claims he use the money for airfare, alcohol and put the money in his own business rather than providing services.— Ross Guidotti (@RossGuidotti) February 25, 2020
But family members of his victims say he was "motivated by abject greed."
"He's scum, plain and simple," said Diana McDowell, whose parents were victims. "He preyed on old people."
McDowell said Kezmarsky sold her parents a prepaid funeral plan, but when her father died, the money was gone and Kezmarsky provided excuses.
Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bauer says Kezmarsky misappropriated the money to build his business and cover personal expenses.
"He's a thief," Bauer said. "He admitted he's a thief, not the great guy everybody was professing."
Last June, Bauer filed additional charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with records against Kezmarsky.
The DA said boxes of cremated remains, some labeled and others unlabeled, were discovered in a storage unit, along with records from the funeral home.