Genesee County funeral director who pleaded guilty to fraud, mishandling remains, has sentencing delayed

BATAVIA, N.Y. (WHEC) — Victims hoping for a resolution in the case of a Genesee County funeral director defrauding them out of thousands of dollars will have to wait another day.

Michael Tomaszewski, the owner of Michael S. Tomaszewski Funeral & Cremation Chapel, was supposed to be sentenced Wednesday in Genesee County Court, but it was delayed as he appeared before a judge requesting a public defender look over his case.

That defender said he needs at least two weeks to look over everything and get prepared for the sentencing process.

Tomaszewski pled guilty back in April to grand larceny and fraud, admitting to stealing thousands from at least 91 funeral home customers for what they thought would be pre-paid funeral expenses.

He also pled guilty to violating New York Public Health Law after admitting that he had human remains at his Batavia funeral home that he had not cremated for 264 days, and another person’s remains that he kept for more than a year and a half.

"There’s gotta be many people that have died since all of this happened, and I guess we feel worse for the ones whose bodies got stashed away somewhere, and I heard today that he waived his right to a speedy trial for his benefit," said Kathy Tyson, one of the victims. "But what about everybody that keeps coming back, waiting for something to happen?"

Tomaszewski originally faced more than 200 counts when the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office released information on the investigation in July of 2020.

He could face up to seven years in prison.