JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a settlement Thursday with a Kansas City funeral home director for allegedly submitting a fraudulent invoice for funeral items to the Crime Victims Compensation Program.
Duane Harvey, doing business as Duane E. Harvey Funeral Directors, allegedly submitted an invoice for services and goods to the Crime Victims Compensation Program that were not actually provided or purchased.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety runs the Crime Victims Compensation Program, which financially assists victims of violent crime in paying for reasonable medical expenses, funeral expenses, counseling expenses, loss of support and lost wages. The program determined the invoice was not legitimate and did not pay the funeral home.
"We will not tolerate attempts to wrongfully take money from the state, particularly from such a worthy fund as the Crime Victims Compensation Program," Koster said. "We are fortunate that no consumers lost money because of Mr. Harvey's unlawful actions. We hope this settlement sends a message to all who bill services to the state that, if you submit fraudulent invoices, you will be held accountable."
Under the terms of the settlement, Harvey must pay $500 to the Missouri Merchandising Practices Revolving Fund, $1,000 in civil penalties to the state, and comply with all Missouri's Embalmers and Funeral Directors law and Merchandising Practices laws.
Mo. AG settles with K.C. funeral director
