Robert McClurkin reports to jail to begin serving 90-day sentence for fraud

WARREN — Robert J. McClurkin, the older of two McClurkin brothers who ran the former McClurkin Funeral Home in Girard, reported to the Trumbull County jail at 9 a.m. Monday to begin serving 90 days for a $450,000 scheme involving prepaid funeral arrangements.

McClurkin, 52, of South State Street in Girard, was sentenced Dec. 5 in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on 11 convictions, including theft from an elderly person, grand theft, theft, tampering with records, forgery and violations of pre-need funeral contracts. He pleaded guilty in July.

Prosecutors said the funeral home accepted $450,000 from customers dating back to 1996 to provide pre-paid funeral arrangements but failed to secure insurance policies or annuities or place the funds in trust for the customers. Instead, they used the money for other things.

On Dec. 5, McClurkin paid $7,241, the last of the $157,241 in restitution he owed to about 30 customers, according to a document provided by the Trumbull County Adult Probation Department.

An insurance company reimbursed the 42 other customers.