A heartless funeral-home director is facing charges for allegedly scamming customers out of over $650,000 in pet cremation services. Instead of returning the remains of their beloved pets, Jacob Vereb, 70, of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial in Pittsburgh, is accused of giving customers the ashes of random, unknown animals.
According to prosecutors, Vereb improperly disposed of “thousands of dogs and cats” that were entrusted to him for cremation services. He allegedly pocketed the money for private cremations and then dumped the pets in a landfill, giving customers ashes of other animals.
Authorities revealed that Vereb’s scheme affected more than 6,500 pet owners across Pennsylvania, with victims in Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday condemned Vereb’s actions, calling them a betrayal of pet owners who trusted him with their pets’ remains. He praised the investigative team for uncovering the extensive theft and deception.
The AG’s office has set up a website for victims to provide their contact information and share impact statements. Nearly a dozen veterinary practices and businesses assisted in confirming that Vereb collected over $657,000 in fees for private cremations that were never delivered.
Vereb surrendered to authorities and is facing felony charges of receiving stolen property, theft by deception, and deceptive business practices. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.
