Funeral home owner faces possible state sanctions

Jan. 29--A Burlington funeral home owner who faces criminal charges also allegedly violated state laws governing funeral services, according to the N.C. Board of Funeral Service.

Larry Brandon Williams, 27, of 811 Meredith Drive, Graham, was charged Jan. 17 with embezzlement and obtaining property by false pretense. He is the owner of Williams Funeral & Cremation Services, 2120 May Drive.

The charges came after investigations conducted by both the Burlington Police Department and NCBFS, in response to a customer's complaint that Williams failed to file a preneed contract she had purchased in July.

The funeral board, located in Raleigh, will hold a hearing at 9 a.m.Feb. 13 to determine what disciplinary action Williams may face, which could include revocation or suspension of his board-issued license.

According to a notice of hearing that board attorney Stephen Dirksen sent to Williams on Jan. 10, Williams is accused of "fraud or misrepresentation" in preneed funeral planning and the practice of funeral service, failing to provide accurate price information to consumers inquiring about funeral services, advertising false and misleading information, failing to oversee the daily operation of his funeral home, and other violations of state law.

ON JULY 20, Williams sold a $1,495 preneed contract to Rebecca White for her to receive a direct cremation through Williams Funeral & Cremation Services. According a complaint letter White wrote to a member of the Burlington Police Department, which the NCBFS provided to the Times-News, she paid the $1,495 in cash. The contract was supposed to be funded with an insurance policy through Homesteaders Life Insurance Co., according to documents released by the NCBFS.

Williams is said to have failed to deposit the funds with Homesteaders within five business days of receipt, in addition to failing to file the preneed contract within 10 days of sale, as required under state law.

Between July 20 and Sept. 30, Williams allegedly made false statements to White about the delay in filing her preneed contract. Around Sept. 26, White verified with funeral board staff that her contract had never been filed. Williams informed White around Oct. 10 that he had filed her preneed contract with the NCBFS.

Documents indicated that on or about Oct. 19, Williams fabricated a confirmation notice from NCBFS and mailed it to White's home address "to conceal that he had not filed the contract ... with the Board or deposited (White's) funds with Homesteaders."

According to NCBFS, the letter showed several indications of fabrication, including that it was sent in an envelope instead of a pressure sealer, was postmarked in Greensboro instead of Raleigh, was on a different form than the board's actual confirmation, had multiple spelling errors and included the wrong telephone number for the board.

After receiving the forged confirmation letter Oct. 22, White verified with NCBFS staff that her preneed contract had still not been filed.

WILLIAMS LATER admitted that he had fabricated the confirmation letter, according to NCBFS documents.

The board alleges that Williams "knowingly, willfully and with intent to defraud, converted the preneed funeral funds of (White) to a use other than as authorized by law."

During an examination conducted between Nov. 4 and Dec. 18, NCBFS inspector Susan Mitchell determined also that Williams used unapproved forms for 27 preneed contracts, engaged in false and misleading advertising, failed to provide accurate price information to consumers inquiring about funeral services, and failed to be actively engaged in and oversee the daily operation of Williams Funeral & Cremation Services, in addition to embezzling by "converting preneed funeral funds to (his) own use or to a use other than as authorized by law."

Neither Williams nor his attorney, Octavis White, would comment on the allegations.

Upon arrest, Williams was released on a $20,000 unsecured bond -- meaning he doesn't have to pay the bond unless he fails to appear in court -- and his next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 5.

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