P.E.I. funeral director faces 66 charges of fraud over pre-paid plan money
The director of a now-closed funeral dwelling on P.E.I. was charged this week with 66 counts of fraud, in relation to how he dealt with cash paid for prearranged funerals.
The costs had been laid in opposition to 70-year-old Lowell Oakes of Crapaud on Thursday. They embrace 36 counts of fraud over $5,000, and 30 counts of fraud beneath $5,000.
RCMP Sgt. Craig Eveleigh stated the investigation started when police acquired a grievance from a consumer of Dawson Funeral Dwelling in August 2021.
“They’d been having points getting their a refund from a prearranged funeral,” stated Eveleigh.
“We had been in a position to decide that there have been quite a few cases the place shoppers within the Crapaud and surrounding space had handled Dawson’s and the cash had not been put in belief.”
Underneath the P.E.I. Prearranged Funeral Providers Act, somebody who sells a prearranged funeral plan should place the funds right into a belief account inside 30 days of signing an settlement with the consumer.
Cash unaccounted for
Oakes was the proprietor and director of Dawson Funeral Dwelling.
In Might, the Prince Edward Island Funeral Providers and Professions Board introduced it had revoked his funeral director and funeral dwelling operator licences and fined him $15,000 in reference to the allegations.
We’re speaking cash within the realm of a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars}.– Sgt. Craig Eveleigh
The funeral providers board stated points with the best way Oakes was dealing with prearranged funeral funds got here to mild throughout a routine inspection, additionally in August 2021.
Whereas RCMP have already recognized dozens of victims, Eveleigh stated the investigation is not over but.
“There are most likely different victims on the market within the Crapaud and surrounding space,” he stated.
“We’re asking anyone that hasn’t already reported to police, if you happen to imagine that you’ve got a prearranged funeral … with Dawson’s, please contact the RCMP.”
Situations might return so far as 1996, Eveleigh stated, including that this was a posh investigation.
“It does take a while and lots of documentation to get that so as,” he stated. “The cash is unaccounted for and we’re speaking cash within the realm of a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars}.”
Dawson Funeral Dwelling has been closed since August 2021, when its licences had been suspended, RCMP stated. These licences proceeded to be revoked in March.
In April, CBC Information reported that three authorized actions had been filed in opposition to Oakes and his enterprise in P.E.I.’s small claims court docket over pay as you go funeral preparations.
Oakes is scheduled to seem in court docket on Aug. 22 to enter a plea.
CBC Information tried to acquire a phone interview with Oakes, however he refused to remark.
