BATAVIA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Michael S. Tomaszewski faces nearly 200 charges, according to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, in connection to the Batavia funeral home and cremation chapel bearing the same name. Many of those charges are related to money.
The Genesee County Sheriff's Office said there is also a case concerning the body of a veteran, and an investigation into the timeliness of how the funeral home handled the remains.
The sheriff's office would not say how long the remains were left without being tended to. Tomaszewski has not been charged with anything related to that case.
First Assistant District Attorney Kevin T. Finnell said his office is aware of this phase of the investigation.
The sheriff's office said the investigation that led to Tomaszewski's July 23 arrest began after a complaint from the Genesee County Office for the Aging on behalf of a customer.
“It could have a very significant impact on a lot of families, for a long time," said Finnell.
Finnell said it's one of the larger cases the county has seen due to the number of victims. According to investigators, victims are out anywhere from $350 to more than $15,000.
“A lot of the money he took for the pre-planned services, or the pre-planned funeral arrangements, were not deposited with the company entrusted to receive that money," said Finnell. "He diverted it, for what use we don’t know.”
Anyone who believes they may be a victim can call Pre-Plan at (800) 577-3752 to verify they have a Pre-Plan account or the sheriff's office at (585) 343-5000.
