On May 11, Terry Alvin Kaufman, 72, of Bad Axe, Michigan, was sentenced by Judge Gerald M. Prill in the 52nd Circuit Court in Huron County to 85 to 240 months’ incarceration after pleading no contest to embezzling and converting funds he received for prepaid funerals and funeral insurance policies, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Kaufman will also pay full restitution to 204 identified victims, totaling $1,111,165.77. He pled in March to:
- One count of conducting a criminal enterprise.
- Two counts of embezzlement by an agent of $20,000 or more but less than $50,000.
- Five counts of embezzlement by an agent $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.
- 31 counts of conversion of funeral contracts.
“I am proud of the prosecutors in my office and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for securing this sentence and restitution for the hundreds of Michigan families impacted by this embezzlement scheme,” said Attorney General Nessel (pictured at top).
She continued, “When residents are prepaying for funeral arrangements, they shouldn’t have to worry about their hard-earned money being stolen. We remain committed to pursuing and prosecuting those who exploit Michiganders.”
Kaufman collected funds through the Huron County Public Guardian but failed to properly escrow any of the funds. He also stole funds from individuals who prepaid for funerals. Instead, Kaufman embezzled and converted the money for his own use, including paying his own salary, over the past 10 years.
This matter was investigated by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and referred to the Department of Attorney General in June 2025. Kaufman was charged by the Department of Attorney General in November 2025.
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