Former funeral home director charged with fraud

City police teamed up with the Bereavement Authority of Ontario to look into allegations of fraud involving pre-paid funeral contracts.

This led to the arrest of a city man who used to own a funeral home in Millbrook.

The investigation indicated that a Millbrook funeral home was allegedly defrauded of $120,000 between 2006 and 2015.

Funds from pre-paid funeral contracts were not deposited into a trust account, police say.

It’s also alleged that the signatures of customers were forged on pre-paid funeral contracts.

A suspect was arrested Thursday.

Patrick W. Benson, 44, of Otonabee Dr., was charged with fraud over $5,000, criminal breach of trust, and seven counts of using, dealing, acting on a forged document.

He appeared in court Wednesday and was released pending a court appearance Oct. 4.

Police say customers affected in the scheme have been contacted.

The Benson Funeral Home operated from 2006 to 2011 at 24 King St. E. and then operated at 35 King St. W. from 2011 until November 2015.

Licensed funeral director Bill Shields and his partner Gwen Hogg purchased the assets of the former Benson Funeral Home in Millbrook in December 2015, according to the Bereavement Authority of Ontario. It now operates as the Fallis and Shields Funeral Home and has no affiliation with Benson.

On March 14, 2017, Benson was suspended under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 and his Class 1 licence was revoked as of March 31. Under the act, Benson is now prohibited from selling, offering to sell or providing any licensed supplies and services as defined by the act, according to a notice from the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.

Anyone who prepaid for bereavement-related funeral, cremation or burial services and supplies from Benson but does not have confirmation of investment with an eligible depository or insurance company is asked to call the Bereavement Authority of Ontario at 1-844-493-6356 ext. 214.