Unlicensed Funeral Director Performed Funeral Services, Defrauded Families: AG

MOUNT VERNON, NY — An unlicensed Westchester County funeral director, accused of illegally performing funeral services and defrauding mourning families, has now been indicted of felony charges, according to the New York AG's Office.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has confirmed the indictment of Michael Naughton, 55, of Baldwin, after accusations that he operated as an unlicensed funeral director, defrauding families out of thousands of dollars.

The 20-count indictment, unsealed in Westchester County Court, charges Naughton with illegally providing funeral directing services dozens of times, at the Camelot Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, after his license had been revoked by regulators.

A January 2026 inspection of Camelot by the New York State Department of Health found 13 bodies in various states of decomposition and 17 boxes of cremated remains, according to documents.

"Planning a loved one's funeral can be among the most difficult and vulnerable times in a person’s life," James said. "Naughton heartlessly took advantage of New Yorkers while knowingly operating his funeral home without a license and failed to take proper care of the remains in his possession. I thank my partners in law enforcement for their partnership in holding Naughton accountable and providing some semblance of peace for the families of the deceased."

Under New York law, no person is authorized to engage in the business or practice of funeral directing, undertaking, or embalming without being duly licensed as a funeral director. Naughton's funeral directing license was revoked by DOH's Bureau of Funeral Directing in 2019, according to the state.

"New Yorkers have the right to trust that they are receiving the funeral services they paid for and that the remains of their loved ones are being treated with the highest level of care during times of grief," State Health Commissioner James McDonald said. "The violations and alleged crimes uncovered at Camelot Funeral Home demonstrate why only licensed funeral directors should be entrusted with the care of human remains."

On January 30, inspectors from the Bureau of Funeral Directing conducted an unannounced administrative inspection of the Camelot Funeral Home. The inspection discovered 13 bodies in various states of decomposition throughout the facility, including six bodies located in the chapels and three bodies in the detached garage – two of which were stacked on top of one another, according to documents. In addition, inspectors reported finding 17 boxes of cremated remains, which were recovered from the basement of Camelot.

Following this shocking discovery, State Health Commissioner McDonald issued an emergency order directing Camelot to cease operations, turn over all documentation related to any human remains in their custody, and fully cooperate with state and local officials to ensure appropriate plans were made for the disposition of human remains.

A subsequent investigation by the Office of the Attorney General's Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau concluded that there was evidence that between at least May 2025 and January 2026, Naughton defrauded dozens of New Yorkers out of thousands of dollars by claiming to be a licensed funeral director at Camelot Funeral Home. Naughton negotiated prices and entered into contracts for funeral services, arranged for transport of decedents, presided over funeral services, and oversaw the disposition of bodily and cremated remains — all of which he was not permitted to do without a funeral directing license, according to investigators.

Naughton is also charged with forging a Burial Transit Permit, the required document authorizing the transfer of the deceased to the place of burial or disposition.

The OAG's 20-count indictment unsealed on Wednesday charges Naughton with three counts of third-degree grand larceny; five counts of fourth-degree grand larceny; one count of third-degree attempted grand larceny; one felony count of criminal possession of a forged Instrument; one felony count of scheme to defraud; and nine counts of unlicensed practice of funeral directing.

If convicted of the top count, Naughton faces a prison sentence of up to seven years, according to the AG.

"This is a deeply disturbing and heartbreaking situation that has caused unimaginable pain for countless families," Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said. "At a time when families were most vulnerable, they were taken advantage of in the most egregious way. My heart is with every family impacted by this betrayal. We stand with those grieving and are committed to ensuring they receive the support, answers, and justice they deserve. There is no place in our city for this level of negligence and disregard for human dignity."

Since January 30, the OAG has been working with the Medical Examiner's Office at the Westchester County Department of Laboratories and Research to identify and return the remains recovered from the Camelot Funeral Home to their relatives. Anyone who believes they were impacted by this scheme is encouraged to contact OAG at this email address.

"The people of Westchester have an absolute right to expect that the remains of their loved ones will be treated with dignity by those entrusted with their care," Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace said. "The allegations in this indictment are appalling and reflect an alleged brazen scheme to defraud those in the deepest stages of grief. I applaud Attorney General James for taking swift, decisive action against the operator of the Camelot Funeral Home, and we will support her office during every stage of this prosecution."