IONIA, Mich. – A former Portland funeral director was accused of embezzling nearly $500,000 from Portland’s Lehman Funeral Homes.
The Ionia Circuit Court told FOX 17 that Marti Schrauben, 39, forged several death certificates. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to one felony and no contest to four other felonies: Forging checks, forgery, insurance fraud and embezzlement over $50,000 but less than $100,000.
Schrauben paid $50,000 in restitution, according to the court. He was ordered to pay another $200,000 before his sentencing in September.
The embezzlement occurred from 2008 to 2010.
5 Comments to “Former Funeral Director Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement”
March 6, 2013 at 6:08 PM
Is nothing sacred?
March 6, 2013 at 6:39 PM
Helen Waite, No, Not in your state! Ionia stick in the mud in a hole in the wall state!
March 6, 2013 at 6:50 PM
When you elect some of the "biggest" embezzelers to office who run the state's economy into the ground, then it is quite obvious Michiganders have plenty of examples to follow, no matter how bad the examples are. I agree, there is nothing off limits in the State of Michigan.
March 7, 2013 at 2:16 AM
Schrauben originally was charged with 27 counts related to racketeering and embezzlement. Authorities say he created false death certificates and sent them to insurance companies to receive payment from policies, and took money from pre-paid funerals.
Funeral home owner Michael Lehman has told the Sentinel-Standard of Ionia he's honoring agreements customers made.