Gravestone Maker Defrauded 500 Grieving Families In NJ, PA: Feds

UPPER MERION, PA — A Pennsylvania man who ran a custom headstone and engraving service failed to provide the service he promised to hundreds of his grieving customers around New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Gregory J. Stefan, Jr., 54, of Upper Merion, Pennsylvania faces seven charges of wire fraud in connection with his businesses 843 LLC and Colonial Memorials.

The fraud occurred between Jan. 2018 and Sept. 2023, federal officials said.

Stefan "knew he would not deliver on the promised timeline, if at all," according to authorities.

He frequently demanded large up-front payments — sometimes as much as the entire cost of the project — before any work was done, officials added.

"When customers reached out to request updates on the status of their overdue orders, Stefan either ignored them or employed lulling tactics and assured them that their orders would be delivered shortly without taking any steps to follow through on those assurances," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

A total of 500 customers paying more than $1.5 million never received their order or a refund for an incomplete order, officials said.

Stefan faces up to 140 years behind bars if convicted of all seven counts of wire fraud.

The FBI investigated the case, which will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Rice.

A preliminary hearing is forthcoming.