Woman sentenced in funeral embezzlement case

BAY CITY (AP) -- A woman has been sentenced to 7 to 20 years in prison for embezzling more than $400,000 from customers of her Bay County funeral home business. Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph Sheeran sentenced Erica Kaznowski last Friday. The 41-year-old was found guilty in early October of six counts of conversion of prepaid funeral services as well as counts of racketeering and conducting a criminal enterprise. Sheeran also ordered Kaznowski to pay $463,000 in restitution to victims and insurance companies. Assistant Attorney General Denise Hart said during trial that Kaznowski embezzled $436,000 from 89 customers from 2005 to 2011 while she managed a funeral home's two locations in Bay City and Hampton Township. According to MLive.com, family members of Kaznowski's victims addressed her during last Friday's sentencing hearing with sharp words. Published: Tue, Dec 4, 2012