Judge delays sentence for couple in funeral fraud

By Ed White Associated Press MOUNT CLEMENS (AP) -- A judge concerned about 150 victims of prepaid funeral fraud postponed the sentences for a Detroit-area couple last Thursday to give them more time to come up with money or other help for people who lost more than $300,000. Judge John Foster said it was more important to come up with a remedy rather than immediately punish Roseville funeral home operators Lisa and Mark Buehler, who could go to prison after pleading guilty to funeral contracts conversion. "It's going to take more time to get us to the end of the road," said Foster, who wants to make the victims "as whole as possible." "This is something that affects people's hearts, their souls," the judge said. Authorities say $352,000 that was supposed to be held in escrow instead was spent by the couple. Police seized Lexus and Jaguar cars but haven't revealed much more about how the money was used. Some contracts were paid as far back as 1993. There were few victims in the courtroom because most were physically unable to attend. Anna Furchak, 79, of Roseville was in tears as she told the judge how she sold gold jewelry and other possessions to buy a $5,200 prepaid funeral in 2010. She called the Buehlers "crooks." "I even gave them my teeth money. I can't get my teeth fixed," Furchak said. She fears having her body thrown into a furnace when she dies if she doesn't have a funeral plan. Furchak said she's paying $85 a month for a new prepaid funeral elsewhere, a financial burden on monthly income of only $605. "Don't worry," the judge replied, "the city of Roseville is not going to throw you in a furnace." The Buehlers did not speak in court or after the hearing. The sentences were delayed until late March. Published: Mon, Aug 8, 2011