HURON COUNTY, Mich. – A Michigan funeral home director has been charged with 39 felony counts related to allegedly embezzling nearly $193,000 from prepaid funeral and insurance funds.
Terry Alvin Kaufman, 71, of Bad Axe, was arraigned on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, the following charges:
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- One count of conducting a criminal enterprise (20-year felony)
- Two counts of embezzlement by an agent, $20,000 or more but less than $50,000 (Each a 10-year felony)
- Five counts of embezzlement by an agent $1,000 or more but less than $20,000 (Each a 5-year felony)
- 31 counts of conversion of funeral contracts (Each a 5-year felony)
Kaufman is the founder and owner of Kaufman & Co. Funeral Home in Huron County, according to a release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Office.
He is accused of collecting $192,824.98 from the Huron County Public Guardian and failing to properly escrow any of the funds.
Instead, Kaufman allegedly embezzled and converted funds from 55 victims for his own personal use. This included using the money for his own salary for the past 10 years.
“When families prepay for funeral services, they expect the funds to be handled with integrity, not siphoned off for personal gain,” Nessel said. “My office remains committed to holding those who commit such criminal enterprises accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Kaufman is scheduled to appear in Huron County 73B District Court on Dec. 4, 2025.