State fund pays nearly $500k to victims of alleged cemetery fraud
Joyce Gordon, of Hamiltonban Township, tries to tidy up a grave site at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens. Gordon was with her husband, Hamiltonban Township supervisor Bob Gordon, to see the condition of the cemetery for the first time. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun
(Gettysburg) — Some people are getting victim’s compensation after an alleged fraud at a midstate cemetery.
The former owner of Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens in Adams County faces criminal charges for allegedly stealing $1.5 million from people who had prepaid for burial arrangments.
While James Delaney’s criminal trial is pending, the state is stepping in.
It’s offering victims compensation for people affected by the incident who also live on a fixed income.
So far, about 250 people have collectively been paid nearly $500,000.
“It doesn’t hurt to apply. If you don’t qualify, we’ll be able to triage that and we’ll know that you don’t qualify but most people do qualify and we’ll get that application up to Harrisburg and get them reimbursed,” says Cindy Keeney, director of the Adams County Victims Witness department.
She adds: “So if someone is working a part-time job but they’re getting social security retirement, they would still qualify if 50% or more of their income is on a fixed income.”
Keeney says more than 800 people were affected by this one alleged fraud, while her office typically handles 2,000 people in an entire year.
People can apply for the victims compensation benefit through February 2018.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
