Having previously pleaded no contest, the Huron County funeral home director accused of stealing funds from pre-paid funerals has been sentenced to a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Terry Alvin Kaufman, 72, of Bad Axe, was sentenced Monday, May 11, by Judge Gerald M. Prill in Huron County’s 52nd Circuit Court to 85 to 240 months’ incarceration. He has also been ordered to pay full restitution to 204 identified victims, totaling over $1.1 million.
The sentence stems from his no-contest plea as entered on Monday, March 16, 2026, to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony; two counts of Embezzlement by an Agent $20,000 or More But Less Than $50,000, each a 10-year felony; five counts of embezzlement by an Agent $1,000 or More But Less Than $20,000, each a 5-year felony; and 31 counts of Conversion of Funeral Contracts, each a 5-year felony.
According to the State Attorney General’s Office, Kaufman collected funds through the Huron County Public Guardian but failed to properly escrow any of the funds. He also stole funds from individuals who prepaid for funerals. Instead, Kaufman embezzled and converted the money for his own use, including paying his own salary, over the past 10 years.
This matter was investigated by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and referred to the Department of Attorney General in June 2025. Kaufman was charged by Michigan’s Department of Attorney General in November 2025.
