CT Funeral Home Owner Charged With Stealing $81K From Clients

Philip Pietras, the owner of multiple funeral homes in Coventry, Connecticut, has been charged with first-degree larceny for allegedly embezzling over $81,000 from vulnerable clients. The investigation began after discrepancies were reported by a financial agency managing pre-paid funeral funds for individuals with disabilities. Records revealed that checks sent to Pietras were not deposited into the required trust accounts, leading to substantial financial shortfalls for at least eight clients. Instead, the funds were reportedly used for personal expenses, including gambling at various casinos and other leisure activities. Pietras was arrested and later released on a $50,000 bond, with a court appearance scheduled for April 14. He attributed the discrepancies to accounting issues and claimed he was not attempting to defraud anyone.