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Former funeral director’s license officially suspended

By Alyssa Choiniere achoiniere@heraldstandard.Com 2 min read
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A former Uniontown funeral director who is accused of stealing nearly $300,000 from clients has permanently surrendered his state licenses.

Stephen E. Kezmarsky III, 50, was charged earlier this year by the state Office of the Attorney General for allegedly collecting advance payments from funeral clients who were paying for their own funerals, and co-mingling those funds with personal accounts.

According to an opinion issued by the state Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Kezmarsky used funds from two pre-paid funerals to pay for his son to attended opioid addiction rehabilitation.

He surrendered both his license to practice as a funeral director in the state, and his license for Kezmarsky Funeral Homes, previously located at 71 Pennsylvania in Uniontown.

The opinion details two alleged thefts from clients. On July 23, 2015, Robert and Amelia Misick purchased two pre-need funerals for themselves for $6,531 and enrolled in life insurance policies. Kezmarsky informed them their funerals were purchased in November and December of that year. With that money in the business’ general operating account, “Kezmarsky was using pre-need funeral money to pay for his son’s rehabilitation for opioid addiction,” the motion said.

In a second case, James and Nancy Sankovich purchased two pre-need funerals on Oct. 29, 2013 for $10,301. Kezmarsky also allegedly used that money for his son’s treatment.

The pre-need funerals were not reported to the board, the opinion said.

Kezmarsky is not permitted to reapply for licenses, work as an unlicensed assistant under a funeral director, possess a controlling interest in a funeral home or practice as a sole proprietor at the funeral home, the motion said.

The motion further described his actions as “gross incompetence, negligence or misconduct in the carrying on of the profession.”

Kezmarsky allegedly collected advance payments from 51 clients between October 2010 and March 2017, stealing a total of $284,393. He was released from Fayette County Prison after his bail was reduced to $150,000 from $500,000 by Fayette County Judge Steve P. Leskinen, following a motion from Kezmarsky’s attorney, David W. Kaiser.

Some of those funds were used at restaurants, gas stations, liquor stores and for airfare, investigators said.

The offices of the state attorney general and Fayette County district attorney are continuing their investigation, urging other potential victims to come forward by calling the attorney general’s office (412-880-0129) or the district attorney’s office (724-430-1245).

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