Authorities say a Long Island man ran a funeral home without a license, collected thousands from grieving families, and left bodies in deteriorating conditions — a case now unfolding in Westchester County court.
Michael Naughton, 55, of Baldwin, has been indicted on 20 charges tied to allegedly operating illegally at Camelot Funeral Home in Mount Vernon and defrauding dozens of families, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday.
According to investigators, a January 2026 inspection by the state Department of Health uncovered 13 bodies in various states of decomposition inside the facility, including some found in chapels and a detached garage. Officials also recovered 17 boxes of cremated remains from the basement.
State officials said Naughton’s funeral director license had been revoked in 2019, making it illegal for him to perform funeral services. Despite that, prosecutors allege he continued operating between at least May 2025 and January 2026, negotiating contracts, arranging transport of the deceased, overseeing services, and handling remains.
Naughton is also accused of forging a burial transit permit — a required document authorizing the transfer of human remains.
The indictment includes multiple felony counts, including grand larceny and possession of a forged instrument, as well as a charge of scheme to defraud and several counts of unlicensed practice. If convicted on the top charge, he faces up to seven years in prison.
Following the inspection, the state ordered the funeral home to cease operations and turn over all records related to remains in its custody. Authorities have since been working to identify the deceased and return remains to their families.
Officials described the case as a severe breach of trust, emphasizing that funeral services must be handled by licensed professionals to ensure dignity and proper care.
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