CT Funeral Home Operator Faces Expanding Fraud and Gambling Claims

A Connecticut funeral home owner already caught up in a big financial misconduct investigation now faces more claims, as new papers show years of mishandling customer money and heavy gambling losses in many states.

Auditors Flag Missing Payments, Leading to Fresh Charges Against Connecticut Funeral Home Owner

This week, state police reported that Philip Pietras, 51, turned himself in on Tuesday to face more charges. Pietras, who managed funeral homes in Vernon, Coventry, Tolland, and East Windsor, is now under scrutiny. The Eastern District Major Crime Squad found that 31 more people, all over 60, lost money after paying in advance for burial services at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home between 2011 and 2025. The warrant states that these funds should have been kept in secure escrow accounts. Instead, Pietras redirected them into accounts he controlled, as reported by the Connecticut Post.

Cops said the scam started falling apart in late 2024 when a company overseeing money for disabled people noticed that payments linked to the Coventry site were not where they should be. This kicked off a bigger check, revealing a trend of withdrawals and missing deposits affecting lots of clients. Ex-employees told the police that Pietras handled all the cash moves himself and kept the trust records out of reach from others.

Casino Spending and Questionable Housing Practices Add New Layers to Widening Fraud Probe

The affidavit details a range of personal expenses that investigators claim were paid for using client funds. These included cruise trips, many hotel stays, plane tickets, and large alcohol buys. Gambling made up a big part of the spending: state records show over $1.2 million went through Mohegan Sun from early 2021 to late 2024, while Foxwoods reported total bets of more than $8 million. More casino activity was found at MGM Springfield where officials say Pietras wagered over $8.4 million across seven years.

Employees also talked about weird living setups. One worker said Pietras lived in the Coventry funeral home for years and let family members stay at the East Windsor location. They thought state rules did not allow this. Another employee remembered earlier holiday get-togethers included trips to Foxwoods, where Pietras spent a lot of time in areas for high-stakes bets.

The money lost keeps going up, according to investigators. Officials in Vernon, Coventry and East Windsor have each filed separate charges. The missing funds in these towns add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. State police said some transactions cannot be traced, which means the total losses might be more than what is known right now.

Pietras lost his embalming license and had to give up the properties he ran. He showed up in court on Wednesday after paying his bond. Officials said they continue to investigate as they look over more financial records.