A Coventry funeral home owner is accused of diverting thousands from client accounts to fuel a gambling habit, according to an arrest warrant. The investigation revealed that over several years, Philip Pietras allegedly mishandled funds meant for pre-paid funerals by failing to deposit them into designated trust accounts. This resulted in significant discrepancies between the amounts clients invested and what remained in their accounts, totaling $81,300 missing. Authorities discovered that the misappropriated funds were spent on casino visits, along with other personal expenses such as hotels, flights, dining, and shopping. Pietras was arrested and charged with first-degree larceny, later released on a $50,000 bond, and is scheduled to appear in court next month.
The investigation uncovered that Pietras Funeral Home was entrusted with managing a pre-payment fund designed to help individuals plan for future burial needs. According to legal documents, the business was supposed to channel these payments into secure trust accounts where they would accumulate interest over time. However, evidence suggests that the funds were not handled appropriately, leading to substantial financial discrepancies in at least eight client accounts. These irregularities came to light when a concerned individual reported that a check given to the funeral home never reached their designated trust account.
Further scrutiny revealed a pattern of neglect and mismanagement. Investigators found that all affected clients experienced significant gaps between the sums originally deposited and the balances currently recorded in their accounts. In total, authorities estimate that $81,300 went missing from these accounts. A representative from the Department of Developmental Services informed law enforcement about the issue after receiving no response from regulatory bodies like the Department of Public Health. Despite repeated attempts to resolve the matter internally, officials eventually advised contacting police, prompting the subsequent investigation into Pietras' actions.
Bank records provided critical insights into how the stolen funds were utilized. Authorities determined that a portion of the money was spent on gambling activities at multiple casinos. Additionally, financial transactions showed expenditures related to leisure travel, accommodations, dining experiences, and retail purchases. During questioning, Pietras claimed he had been unemployed for a period and suggested incomplete documentation might have contributed to the oversight. He denied any intention of committing fraud, attributing the discrepancies to administrative errors rather than deliberate malfeasance.
The investigation delved deeper into Pietras' financial dealings, revealing a clear link between the missing funds and his personal lifestyle choices. Evidence indicated that instead of safeguarding the pre-paid funeral funds as required, Pietras diverted them toward recreational pursuits and luxury items. His statements during interviews failed to align with the documented evidence, raising doubts about his claims of unintentional mismanagement. Consequently, Pietras was formally charged with first-degree larceny, reflecting the severity of the alleged embezzlement. Following his arrest, he secured release by posting bail and awaits further proceedings in court.