Families in Kentucky paid ahead for funeral services, a step people often take so relatives are not left handling every cost and decision after a death.
Prosecutors now say those payments are part of a felony fraud case.
Donald Auberry, 53, of Campbellsville, was indicted by a Taylor County grand jury on 13 counts of violation of trust provisions/pre-need payments for funeral services, according to Kentucky Today.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office said the alleged conduct happened at least 13 times between July 2021 and April 2025. The charges are allegations, and Auberry is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Indictment Covers Prepaid Funeral Services
The case is tied to pre-need funeral payments, not a normal unpaid bill after a service has already taken place. Pre-need arrangements involve paying before funeral services are needed. In Kentucky, that money is supposed to be handled under rules for prepaid funeral funds.
K-Country 105.7, publishing the Attorney General’s release, reported that Auberry was indicted on 13 Class C felony counts. The Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations handled the investigation, and the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office for the 11th Judicial Circuit presented the case to the grand jury.
The Case Runs From 2021 To 2025
The Attorney General’s Office said the alleged abuses happened between July 2021 and April 2025. Nelson County Gazette reported that Auberry is funeral director at Auberry Funeral Home and Cremation Services, located at 503 East Main Street in Campbellsville.
The outlet reported that Auberry was booked into the Taylor County Jail and released on $2,000 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for June 23, 2026, in Taylor Circuit Court.
Prepaid Funeral Plans Need Documents Relatives Can Find
Prepaid funeral plans can be legitimate. Families use them to choose services, pay ahead, and leave fewer decisions for relatives later.
The problem is that the service may not be needed for years. By then, the person who paid may not be the one trying to prove what was purchased.
The Kentucky Department of Insurance advises people considering prepaid funeral expenses to read the contract carefully, ask questions, and tell family members about the arrangements. Its consumer guide says pre-need payment may involve a lump sum, installment payments, or a life insurance policy connected to the funeral purchase.
Families should keep the contract, receipts, price lists, insurance or trust documents, cancellation terms, transfer terms, and the funeral home’s legal business name in a place relatives can find. If the plan is funded by insurance, the policy documents should be stored with the funeral paperwork, not only with the funeral home.
Price Lists And Payment Records Are Not The Same Thing
The Federal Trade Commission says funeral providers must give a General Price List to anyone who asks in person about funeral goods, funeral services, or prices. The list must include itemized prices and required disclosures so consumers can compare costs and choose only the goods and services they want.
The Funeral Rule also applies when people ask about arrangements in advance, not only after someone has died.