Funeral director gets jail for theft
Authorities say defendant stole $257K from elderly terminally ill client’s estate
The director of a Chester County funeral home was sentenced to prison for his role in stealing more than $257,000 from an elderly terminally ill client who wanted his estate to be donated to local charities.
Kenneth Neeld, 48, of Malvern, was sentenced to serve 21/2 to 5 years in a correctional facility for his role in stealing money from Keith Jerome, an 84-yearold terminally ill man.
“Pennsylvanians are entitled to knowing that at the end of their lives, their money will be used as they see fit, not stolen to pay someone else’s vacation home,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “Today, Kenneth Neeld is facing prison time for stealing money from Keith Jerome—someone who trusted Neeld to carry out his will. We will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who misleads and steals from Pennsylvanians.”
An investigation by the Office of Attorney General’s office determined that from March 2016
through September 2020, Neeld repeatedly stole money from Jerome and his estate, most typically by transferring money directly to his own bank accounts. Neeld also used Jerome’s money to directly pay his own personal bills, such as the cost of a vacation home rental, federal income taxes, state income taxes, local taxes, real estate taxes, an orthodontist bill, a veterinary bill, auto repair bills, auto insurance
premiums, credit card bills, EZ pass bills, and parking tickets.
In the months leading up to Jerome’s death five years ago, Neeld transferred Jerome’s money directly into his own bank account, prosecutors said.
Neeld also transferred ownership of Jerome’s car to himself, charged Jerome’s insurance company for a funeral that Neeld never performed, forged a document suggesting that Jerome owed Neeld money that he’d already stolen, and provided false information on the Jerome Estate tax return in order to conceal
his thefts. To facilitate his thefts, Neeld also led another insurance company to believe that Jerome was still alive.
Jerome had directed Neeld to distribute his estate to distribute his financial assets to Amigos de Jesus, Zawadi Fund International and the Coatesville Senior Center after his passing. Amigos de Jesus and Zawadi Fund International both fund educational programs assisting impoverished children.
Neeld was sentenced for theft, forgery, insurance fraud, and related charges before the Honorable Judge
Wallace Bateman. He was also ordered to serve seven years of probation concurrent to jail time and pay restitution of $257,916.61. He is also required to relinquish his professional licenses as a funeral director and insurance agent, and cannot work as a funeral director, insurance agent, financial advisor or serve in any fiduciary capacity during the entire period of court supervision.
The case was investigated by Special Agent Rachel Story and prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General M. Eric Schoenberg.