BUTLER, Mo. (AP) - A former funeral home operator in western Missouri is going to prison for seven years for stealing from clients.
Thomas Brandtonies Jr. pleaded guilty in November to six counts of stealing funds paid by consumers for pre-need funeral plans. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says Brandtonies was sentenced Tuesday in Bates County Circuit Court to seven years on each count, with the sentences to be served concurrently.
Brandtonies operated Underwood-Brandtonies Funeral Home in Butler until it closed in February 2009.
Koster says Missouri law requires pre-need funeral funds to be placed in trust. Brandtonies assured consumers their money would be used to pay for their funerals, but used the money for himself instead.