Former funeral director John B. Jones facing charges
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A former funeral director is facing charges of misappropriating pre-need burial accounts.
John B. Jones, Equality, was charged Wednesday with five counts of theft and six counts of failure to deposit funds into a trust account when required.
The charges were filed by by Special Prosecutor Charles R. Zalar of the appellate prosecutor's office.
Investigators believe Jones, who was a partner in Gaskins-Jones Funeral Home, deposited money for several prepaid funeral contracts into the funeral home's general operating funds instead of placing the funds in a trust, annuity or life insurance policy as required by law.
"In some instances it did not become clear until they died," Zalar said.
A warrant for Jones' arrest was issued Wednesday afternoon. His bond was set at $100,000, according to Zalar. It is not known if Jones is in custody yet or has posted bond.
Gaskins-Jones Funeral Home is out of business. The last obituary from Gaskins or Gaskins-Jones Funeral Home was published in the Daily Register on Nov. 5.
An investigation into prepaid funeral home contracts at Gaskins-Jones Funeral Home began in March. State's Attorney Mike Henshaw asked anyone with a prepaid contract to contact his office to make sure the contract is honored. Henshaw then asked for appointment of a special prosecutor to avoid the appearance of impropriety or conflict-of-interest. Henshaw's former law partnership, Wilson and Henshaw, represented Jones in a related civil matter. Court documents indicate Zachary Hausman, then Robert Wilson represented Jones in a civil case involving the partners of the funeral home.
Gregory Meredith was the senior partner in Gaskins-Jones Funeral Home. He was not charged and is not likely to be charged, Zalar said. There is also no evidence that Mike Gribble, an employee of the funeral home at the time, was involved in any wrongdoing, Zalar said.
The investigation took quite some time. The Comptroller's office was looking into the matter, then the Attorney General's office opened an investigation into the case.
"The logistics are such that getting down to Harrisburg is not the easiest thing," Zalar said.
There may be several other instances of prepaid funerals being misappropriated, Zalar said.
"It could go back a number of years. The statute of limitations has run on some," Zalar said.
The statute of limitations is three years on failure to deposit funds and three years on theft charges - but if the theft arises from failure to perform a fiduciary duty, then the statute of limitations can run six years.