Allegheny County detectives and Millvale police Friday arrested a former Millvale funeral director on charges he bilked 10 customers out of more than $55,000.
Detectives said the number of victims and losses could quadruple by the time their investigation of Jack W. Amick is complete.
"We have two more victims that we're still working on the charges for, and we know there are victims out there who don't even know they were victimized," county police Sgt. Robert Downey said. "There's still a lot of work to do."
Amick, 41, of Ross Township, the former owner of Amick Funeral Home, is charged with 13 counts of theft by deception and 10 counts each of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, theft by unlawful taking or disposition and deceptive or fraudulent business practices.
Amick cried, but did not speak, as he was led in handcuffs to an arraignment before Millvale District Justice Richard McCarthy.
"If my mother-in-law dies tomorrow, we are going to have to put the funeral on MasterCard," said Carol Jasneski, 57, of Millvale, who with her husband, John, paid Amick more than $7,700 seven years ago for arrangements for John's mother, Dorothy, who is now 85 and lives in a nursing home. "My husband and I are starting a savings account to pay for the funeral."
Police said Amick took money from customers for prearranged funerals, in which people pay for the funeral services, casket, limousine and other services ahead of time. By law, funeral directors are required to place that money in an interest-bearing bank account, Downey said. A funeral director must present a death certificate in the name of the depositor to withdraw the funds.
Amick never put the money in those accounts, police said. In some cases, he initially followed the law, but then had customers sign forms to transfer the funds into accounts he said would earn more interest, police said. He then took that money, police said.
"We don't know where the money went," Downey said.
The 10 victims identified by police lost between $1,400 and $7,700 each over the past 12 years, court documents state.
In three cases, including the Jasneskis', Amick charged customers administrative fees of between $600 and $1,000, according to affidavits of probable cause filed to support the charges. Downey said charging an administrative fee violates the state Funeral Directors Act.
"I do not think we will get anything back," said Hans Henning, 82, a retired truck driver who said he lost money he gave to Amick.
Police have not yet filed charges in connection with Henning's case.
"We are not wealthy people, but I guess we will have to make other arrangements," Henning said.
Downey said Amick's funeral home went out of business in May. Amick's home is up for sheriff's sale, he said.
Several victims called the banks at which they thought their money was being held after Amick closed the funeral home, police said. When the banks told them that the accounts didn't exist, victims called police.
Detective Ken Ruckel said police still are searching the records of a bank from which Amick withdrew $54,000. Police had not yet identified the eight people whose money was deposited into that account, he said.
Kathleen K. Ryan, a lawyer for the state Funeral Directors Association in Harrisburg, said people who set up prearranged funeral accounts should call the bank within a week of paying the money.
"These accounts are irrevocable, so once the money is in there, it should be safe," she said.
Ryan also said these cases hurt all funeral directors.
"Their success is based on a good relationship and reputation in the community," she said. "This affects the integrity of the whole industry."
Staff writer Rick Wills contributed to this report.
