Authorities announced on Tuesday that a salesman who sold headstones has been charged with defrauding hundreds of customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Upper Merion resident Gregory J. Stefan Jr., 54, faces charges of wire fraud with a total of seven counts.
According to the indictment, Stefan’s businesses, 1843 LLC and Colonial Memorials, defrauded hundreds of people from January 2018 to September 2023.
According to authorities, he promised to provide custom headstones and engraving services, but failed to deliver them on time, or in some cases, not at all.
According to investigators, Stefan would reportedly request significant upfront payments from his clients, sometimes requiring them to pay the entire purchase price while still in mourning.
According to authorities, Stefan would either ignore customers or give them false reassurances when they checked in for updates on their orders, without actually taking any steps towards delivering the product.
According to investigators, Stefan did not fulfill the orders or issue refunds for around 500 customers who paid him more than $1.5 million.
On Tuesday, Stefan appeared in federal court for the first time regarding the charges.
The consequences of a conviction for him could be severe, as he could potentially be sentenced to up to 140 years in prison.
Stefan faced a total of 280 charges last year in Delaware County, all of which were related to his business practices.
