Connecticut Funeral Director Allegedly Used Prepayments to Fund Gambling TripsPosted on: October 2, 2025, 04:59h. Philip Pietras is facing 60 criminal counts of stealing money from his funeral home business to gamble and fund his lifestyle. (Image: Vernon Police Department)Before an investigation into Pietras’ funeral homes began earlier this year, he owned and operated funeral parlors in Vernon, East Windsor, Coventry, and Tolland. Pietras was the proprietor of Pietras Family Funeral Homes and the Burke-Fortin Funeral Home in Vernon. Prepayments StolenAccording to the arrest warrant affidavit, law enforcement began probing Pietras after an employee with a third-party company that assists funeral homes in managing and administering funeral contracts notified police about possible discrepancies at Pietras Family Funeral Homes’ Coventry location.