Attorney General Peter Kilmartin announced that Todd Lauzon (DOB: 3/23/73), with a last known address of 30 Munroe Street, Woonsocket, pleaded guilty yesterday to 30 counts of embezzlement in an pre-paid funeral services scheme. Superior Court Associate Justice Netti C. Vogel sentenced Lauzon to 20 years, with four to serve and the remainder suspended with probation, for each count, sentences to run concurrent. In addition, Lauzon was ordered to repay restitution in excess of $137,000 to his victims.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that between 2002 and 2009, Todd Lauzon, owner and operator of the Lauzon Funeral Home in Woonsocket, accepted money from individuals for pre-paid funeral services. Lauzon would later submit fraudulent documentation on behalf of the clients terminating the contracted services and convert the funds for his own use.
"This was a despicable act of greed by an individual who took advantage of those seeking his comfort and advice," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "Families put their trust and money in Todd Lauzon to take care of their loved ones for all eternity only to be betrayed and left in the dark during their time of mourning. I hope today's sentence will give the victims some relief with the knowledge he will not take advantage of those in his community again."
Rhode Island State Police Detective Robert A. Creamer led the investigation and Assistant Attorney General Ronald Gendron, chief of the White Collar Crime and Public Corruption Unit, prosecuted case on behalf of the State. Lauzon was ordered to surrender to the Court on Monday, September 10, 2012 to commence sentence.