New York Cemetery Companies Allegedly Cheated Many New Yorkers

Nearly 30 New Yorkers were cheated out of over $50,000, officials say.

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New York Attorney General Letitia James announced she filed a lawsuit against two cemetery monument companies for failing to provide grieving families with the tombstones and other burial monuments they purchased.

The lawsuit, filed against Polanco Monuments and Heavenly Monuments, charges that the companies and their owners engaged in a deceptive and fraudulent scheme in which they induced vulnerable New Yorkers, coping with the death of loved ones, to pay upfront fees for monuments and tombstones, but never provided the monuments, officials say.

The companies refused to issue refunds, failed to provide contracts in accordance with the law, falsely advertised their services, and conducted unsolicited offers to potential customers through mail and through home visits, officials say.

The Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) investigation found that these companies allegedly cheated 26 people from New York out of more than $50,000 in total and repeatedly refused requests for refunds for services that were paid for, but never rendered.

The lawsuit seeks restitution for the consumers who were cheated by these companies, and for other consumers who were subject to the companies’ illegal, unsolicited offers through mail or home visits.

“During the darkest time in their lives, families shouldn’t have to deal with the additional burden of being preyed upon and cheated by companies that are supposed to help them,” James said. “Polanco and Heavenly Monuments shamelessly stole thousands from grieving New Yorkers who were simply trying give family members and loved ones the respect they deserve. On my watch, we will never allow deceptive practices of any kind and we will not hesitate to hold bad actors accountable to the fullest of the law.”

The lawsuit, filed in Bronx County Supreme Court, alleges that owners Ramon Polanco and Juan Polanco engaged in a scheme, in which they sold burial monuments that were never provided and illegally advertised and solicited business.

Polanco and Heavenly Monuments distributed brochures and flyers at funeral homes, interacted directly with consumers during unsolicited house visits, and on their website and other online platforms such as Yelp, officials say.

In fact, the owners employed these tactics to lure consumers into paying upfront fees for cemetery monuments that they never intended on providing. When consumers followed up to inquire about the status of their purchase, they were repeatedly stalled with excuses and often, their calls went unanswered. Many of their contracts failed to include terms required under state law. When consumers showed up in person to inquire about their purchase status, they learned that the businesses had abruptly closed without any prior notice, the lawsuit states.

Attorney General James wants to order Polanco and Heavenly Monuments from engaging in further alleged deceptive and fraudulent behavior and to compel the two companies to pay restitution to the 26 individuals who were cheated out of a total of more than $50,000. The OAG is also requesting a financial accounting of each consumer’s transactions to determine whether any other individuals were similarly injured.

While no place in the Hudson Valley made the list, the region has received a ton of praise recently.