More Embezzlement Charges Levied Against Former Funeral Home Owner From Enfield

TOLLAND, CT — More fraud-related criminal charges have been levied against Enfield resident and former north central Connecticut funeral home director Philip Pietras, this time in Tolland.

State police announced the charges Friday after a new arrest warrant was served.

Pietras, 51, is accused of using customer down payments submitted to his chain of funeral homes for personal use, including elaborate gambling habits and trips. The investigation began on May 19, and involves the Eastern District Major Crime Squad.

In October 2024, state police received a complaint reporting a discrepancy about a client's payment to the Pietras Funeral Home in Coventry, according to case records. The payment had never been transferred from the business account held by Pietras into the trust account held, according to case records.

After discovering the discrepancy, an audit of additional clients was initiated for those who utilize the funeral homes owned by Pietras, according to case records. Pietras was subsequently arrested on on April 6 on a first-degree embezzlement-related larceny charge, records show.

After charges in Coventry, Enfield, East Windsor and Vernon were made public, the Eastern District Major Crimes Squad received numerous complaints from additional victims, and the extended investigation revealed "sufficient probable cause" that Pietras had also embezzled funeral service contract funds entrusted to him from 31 more people older than 60 at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home from 2011 through 2025.

An arrest warrant for the listed charges was approved by Rockville Superior Court and, on Nov. 25, Pietras surrendered at the Troop C barracks, state police said.

The new charges include:

• Unfair trade practices (31 Counts)
• Larceny in the first degree (3 Counts)
• Larceny in the second degree (14 Counts)