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Mastromarino plans to surrender Tuesday and will fight the charges, his lawyer said. "No penalty is too harsh for these guys, for the just unbelievably craven nature of what they did," Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham said at a news conference. Three Philadelphia funeral-home directors were charged yesterday with turning their businesses into gruesome human chop shops that pilfered bones and tissue from the dead to fuel a booming, $1 billion transplant industry. Mastromarino plans to surrender Tuesday in Philadelphia and will Many families received ashes from bins mixed with the remains of different cadavers, authorities said, and one client received concrete mix instead of a relative's ashes. "For one thing, cremations made it easier to deceive the next of kin.". appreciated. (Reuters) - A second Colorado woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to defrauding relatives of the dead as part of a scheme in which a funeral home sold body parts without permission . An attorney for Gerald Garzone did not return a phone call seeking comment. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The lucrative parts were He said he anticipated that prosecutors would ask for a high bail at an arraigment today. The district attorney also charged McCafferty and Louis and Gerald Garzone with defrauding a state welfare program that offers help to the poor for burial expenses. Explore life stories, offer tributes & condolences, send flowers or create a lasting online memorial for loved ones. Another cutter, Chris Aldorasi, Updated. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. body, but the Philadelphia woman believes the missing age and cause Flowers. Three funeral directors sold 244 corpses for about $1,000 each to a New York businessman who trafficked in the resale of often-diseased body parts, a grand jury charged Thursday. Colorado funeral home owners sentenced to federal prison for selling body parts without families' permission Judge sentences Megan Hess to 20 years in prison and gives Shirley Koch a 15-year . "No penalty is too harsh for these guys, for the just GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. A Colorado funeral home operator accused of illegally selling body parts and giving clients fake ashes has pleaded guilty to mail fraud in federal court. So far, authorities have learned the true identities of only 48 of the 244 bodies, Abraham said. The three men also jointly own Liberty Cremation. Prior to the raid, the cost of purchasing an arm and shoulder was $600. In such circumstances, despite lacking any authorization, Koch and Hess recovered body parts from, or otherwise prepared entire bodies of hundreds of decedents for body broker services.. She also offered free cremations in exchange for a body donation. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? In a cruel twist, the mother-and-daughter team also repeatedly lied to grieving families about the status of their loved one's bodies or flat out ignored their wishes, said the DOJ. 8-year-old cheerleader dies after Fourth of July parade ac Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Hated Tom Sandoval addresses Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Greys Anatomy alum Isaiah Washington retiring from acting: The haters have won, Max Scherzer's first look at the new pitch clock, Chris Rock Jokes About Watching Emancipation to See Will Smith Getting Whipped In Advance of Netflix Special: Report, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Published Dec 19, 2008. PHILADELPHIA (AP) - April 4, 2008 A grand jury indictment charges that they were paid $1,000 per Funeral directors Louis Garzone, 65, of Philadelphia; his younger brother, Gerald Garzone, 47, of North Wales; and James McCafferty, 37, of Philadelphia; were arrested Thursday on thousands of . Former workers describe troubling practices at this mortuary. "My husband was a World War II veteran of three years," said A Colorado funeral home operator accused of illegally selling body parts and giving clients fake ashes has been sentenced to 20 years in prison By The Associated Press January 4, 2023, 12:16 AM was HIV-positive and suffered from hepatitis C and cancer. "Hess and Koch also delivered remains to families with the representation that the remains were that of the deceased when, frequently, that was not the case," it added. PHILADELPHIA (AP) - April 4, 2008 But prosecutors here are balking at any 2-for-1 deal. Megan Hess, who operated a funeral home called Sunset Mesa and a human body parts business called Donor Services from the same building, entered the plea to the charge of fraud at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gordon Gallagher in Grand Junction, Colorado. Investigators found 112 cases in which the three men charged indigent clients for services - then billed welfare as well. But instead of offering guidance, these greedy women betrayed the trust of hundreds of victims and mutilated their loved ones, Leonard Carollo, the acting special agent in charge at the FBI in Denver, said in a news release. Two morticians operating . younger brother, Gerald Garzone, 47, of North Wales; and James In one such case, the donor was HIV-positive and suffered from hepatitis C and cancer. These two women preyed on vulnerable victims who turned to them in a time of grief and sadness. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) A Colorado funeral home operator accused of illegally selling body parts and giving clients fake ashes was sentenced to 20 years in prison . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. They took remains without permission from 244 cadavers, an indictment says. MONTROSE, Colo. When funeral directors Megan Hess and Shirley Koch were sentenced after admitting to illegally selling body parts from the Sunset Mesa . innocent. Ms. Hess and her mother sometimes obtained consent from families to donate small tissue samples or tumors of their dead relative, according to an indictment in the case. Legal Statement. Keep reading with a digital access subscription. "He was victimized by the funeral directors. patients worldwide. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. September 2005, prosecutors said. On dozens of occasions, Hess and Koch transferred bodies or body parts to third parties for research without families knowledge, according to the U.S. Justice Department. In Kensington, neighbors defended Louis Garzone. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Deli worker killed in apparent robbery on Upper East Side, Lori Lightfoot lost for failing Chicago not because voters are racist/sexist, Investigators want to exhume body of Alex Murdaughs dead housekeeper, Accused pedophile mayor called Pete Buttigieg his buddy and mentor, paid to have their late loved ones cremated. "Nobody knows the whole story," said Carmen Cologne, 47, who resides across the street. Sell your poop for up to $1,500 per month. Mastromarino has been fighting the New York charges. The Garzone brothers each own a funeral home and McCafferty was the director at a funeral home owned by his mother, the report said. However, it isn't clear whether what they were allegedly doing is illegal in any way . A reporter seeking comment at their businesses was told to leave. Abraham said. because there are bodies in Pennsylvania," Peruto said. In 2022 Ken Matthews was ranked #70 of the 100 most important Talk Radio Show Hosts in America by the radio industry's TALKERS magazine. He and Assistant District Attorney Bruce Sagel expect cutter arrived, authorities said. husband's body parts.". In 2014, the FBI raided Gore's chop shop in Phoenix, and were . Michael Mastromarino, a businessman and former dentist, ran the scheme with help from a team of "cutters" who stole the body parts, authorities said. Wales, and James McCafferty, 37, of Philadelphia, have pleaded not of death to make it appear the body parts were more fresh, PHILADELPHIA Three funeral directors sold hundreds of bodies to a former oral surgeon who allegedly collected the bones, tissue and skin from the corpses to be used in transplants, a grand jury charged Thursday after a 16-month investigation. The three funeral-home directors - Louis Garzone, 65; his brother Gerald Garzone, 47; and James A. McCafferty Jr., 37 - were accused of plundering 244 cadavers between February 2004 and September 2005. MONTROSE, Colo. Two operators of a western Colorado funeral home were sentenced to federal prison Tuesday after being accused of illegally selling the bodies or body parts of hundreds of . According to a report from the DOJ at the time of the arrests, Hess and Koch's mail scheme included shipping "bodies and body parts that tested positive for, or belonging to people who had died from, infectious diseases, including Hepatitis B and C, and HIV, after certifying to buyers that the remains were disease-free. Prosecutors Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. "He was victimized by the funeral directors. It was not immediately known if the three funeral directors had attorneys. A stout, ruddy-faced James McCafferty Jr. - the third of the Philadelphia funeral-home operators who participated in the sickening national scam to illegally sell body parts - was sentenced yesterday to 3 1/2 to 10 years in state prison. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Expand. "One of the cutters said it was like the back of a butcher shop, Mastromarino claimed that none of the deceased died in a hospital, in order to explain why there were no medical records, according to the grand jury report. Funeral directors Louis Garzone, 65, Gerald Garzone, 47, and James McCafferty, 37, were arrested Thursday on thousands of counts, ranging from running a corrupt organization to forgery and theft of body parts. Prosecutors recommended a sentence for Hess of 12 to 15 years. Both Hess and Koch originally had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mastromarino, who ran a now-defunct company called Biomedical Tissue Services, is already facing charges in New York for allegedly plundering 1,077 bodies, including those from Philadelphia. 1,700 counts charged, such as running a criminal enterprise and $1,300. Mastromarino is already facing charges in New York for allegedly One Tweet. "I've yet to be shown a single shred of evidence that he knew Hess then "sold those remains to victims purchasing the remains for scientific, medical, or educational purposes," the release added. That term was cut short Sunday morning when Mastromarino, 49, died at a New York hospital. part is pursuing a civil suit, Abraham said. Several funeral home operators in New York have also pleaded Mechafanboy said: There's a case in little India a few years back. The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado said in a release Tuesday, that Meghan Hess, 45, of Montrose, Colorado had pleaded guilty to running a complex fraud "devised and executed to steal the bodies or body parts of hundreds of victims," from 2010 to 2018. Wetzel and Son Funeral Home Inc. 6902 Rising Sun Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111. 2. Despite surrendering their licenses, the two Garzone funeral homes have continued operating under the control of a third brother, James, who revived a dormant Pennsylvania funeral home director license. "He was victimized by the funeral directors. Prosecutors are calling for Hess, who had previously pleaded not guilty, to be sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison. All rights reserved. Meeting with hospice on the 4th opening the floodgates of donors, Hess wrote to a prospective body-part buyer in 2014. her fear. Like Gore, Rathburn would also be convicted but in federal court of fraud for selling and transporting infected body parts. and provide for other medical needs, the 111-page indictment said. Hatboro woman facing charges after racist rant at pizzeria, Eagles wide receiver assaulted, robbed at gunpoint in Maryland, Tom Sizemore dead at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, Man missing since 2021 was murdered, co-worker arrested: DA, Do not to buy Raspberry Rally cookies from eBay, Girl Scouts say, Brian Laundrie was 'emotional bully,' Petito family lawsuit says, Pa. woman missing since 1992 found alive in Puerto Rico, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison; defense to appeal, Woman has gun held to her head during home invasion: Police, Temple faculty union could hold no-confidence vote on Monday, Pennsylvania lawmaker says he won't quit amid sex misconduct claim. The company sold the parts to treat burns, replace broken bones and provide for other medical needs, the 111-page indictment said. Ms. Koch has pleaded not guilty, but she has a change of plea hearing scheduled for July 12. Mastromarino will also testify, if necessary, against his She could face up to 20 years in prison. Michael Mastromarino, who operated the now-defunct Biomedical Tissue Services of Fort Lee, N.J., ran the scheme with help from a team of "cutters" who stole the body parts, authorities said. This is a common price to purchase funeral flowers. In such a growing industry, small, unaccredited outfits outnumber the accredited ones, experts said. The Daily Sentinel reportsthat Megan Hess faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison after entering the plea Tuesday in Grand Junction. Dion Rassias, an attorney for the James A. McCafferty Funeral Home, at Frankford and Unruh Avenues in Mayfair, said James McCafferty Jr. was not a director at his mother's funeral home. The grand jury found that the three men collected more than $183,000 from those families and $84,000 more from welfare. The group also lowered the donors' ages and changed their dates of death to make it appear the body parts were more fresh, authorities said. Get ready!!!! Those body parts were sold to at least five processing companies and one major distributor. Lawyers for Ms. Hess did not immediately reply to requests for comment on Tuesday. While the mostly poor families thought their loved ones were See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. The Sunset Mesa Funeral Directors & Donor Services building sits empty in Montrose, Colorado, in 2018. Sell your breast milk for $1-$3 per ounce. A funeral home in Colorado has been investigated for cutting off body parts from its clients and selling them. Gallagher scheduled Hess, who had previously pleaded not guilty, to be sentenced in January, with the prosecution calling for 12 to 15 years in prison. funeral directors there have pleaded guilty, including one whose Donate your sperm to earn up to $1,500/mo! The parts could have been transplanted into as many as 13,000 patients, the Food and Drug Administration estimated. By John Shiffman. Mansion, Jen Shah's Assistant Stuart Smith Changes Plea to Guilty in Telemarketing Scheme Case, American Dentist Accused of Plotting Wife's Murder During Africa Hunting Trip. They each pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and aiding and abetting. The 244 bodies fetched about $1,000 each, the grand jury found, with the body parts being transplanted in unsuspecting medical patients worldwide.
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