2 more plead guilty in funeral scam

ST. LOUIS -- The owner of a now-defunct prearranged funerals company in pleaded guilty Wednesday to operating what authorities say was a giant Ponzi scheme that bilked customers out of as much as $600 million.

Clayton, Mo., resident James Douglas Cassity, 67, who owned National Prearranged Funerals Inc., faces up to nine years and seven months in prison when he's sentenced Nov. 7 for fraud, money laundering and misappropriation of funds.

His 46-year-old son Brent Douglas Cassity, an officer of the company, pleaded guilty Wednesday to mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. He will be sentenced the same day and faces up to five years in prison.

Three other former employees await trial Aug. 5, while a fourth, Sharon Nekol Province, of Ballwin, pleaded guilty in June.

The Clayton company sold policies in several states from 1992 until 2008 under which customers typically paid a single sum of up to $10,000 to cover the cost of future funeral services and related expenses.

Defendants had been offered plea deals requiring 5 to 10 years in prison in exchange for guilty pleas.

Without the deals, they risk life sentences if convicted.