Former Huron County Funeral Home Director to Stand Trial on 39 Felonies in Alleged Embezzlement Scheme

LANSING – Today, Terry Alvin Kaufman, 72, of Bad Axe, waived preliminary examination and was bound over to stand trial in the 52nd Circuit Court in Huron County for allegedly embezzling and converting funds he received for prepaid funerals and funeral insurance policies, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Kaufman, who founded and operated Kaufman & Co. Funeral Home in Huron County, has been charged with: 

• One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony; 
• Two counts of Embezzlement by an Agent $20,000 or More But Less Than $50,000, each a 10-year felony; 
• Five counts of Embezzlement by an Agent $1,000 or More But Less Than $20,000, each a 5-year felony; and 
• 31 counts of Conversion of Funeral Contracts, each a 5-year felony. 

Kaufman allegedly collected $192,824.98 through the Huron County Public Guardian but failed to properly escrow any of the funds. Instead, Kaufman is accused of embezzling and converting money from 55 victims to his own use, including paying his own salary, over the past 10 years. 

“When families prepay for funeral services, they expect the funds to be handled with integrity, not siphoned off for personal gain,” said Nessel at the time of arraignment. “My office remains committed to holding those who commit such criminal enterprises accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” 

Kaufman will next appear in the 52nd Circuit Court on February 2 before Judge Gerald M. Prill.