Funeral Director License Suspended for Financial Misconduct

July 23, 2025

Philip M. Pietras, owner of four funeral homes in Connecticut, recently had his embalmer’s license suspended by the state Board of Examiners of Embalmers and Funeral Directors for misuse of funds. The 51-year-old man is accused of embezzling over $81,000 from eight elderly clients who had prepaid for funeral and burial services.

A state investigation revealed discrepancies between client payments and trust account balances, with some accounts never having been opened. Pietras allegedly used the funds for personal benefit. He turned himself in to the state police in April after a warrant was issued and was charged with first-degree larceny, a Class B felony. In May, the Board of Examiners suspended his license pending further hearings.

Whether you’re a funeral director, teacher, real estate agent, healthcare worker, securities trader, or other licensed professional, if you are accused of misconduct, your license is in jeopardy. And if your license is under threat, that means your livelihood, reputation, and professional future are also at stake.

If you have been accused of professional misconduct and face disciplinary measures from your state licensing board, call the LLF National Law Firm today and speak with a member of our Professional License Defense Team. We have years of experience helping professionals in multiple industries protect their rights, licenses, and careers. We want to help you, too. Call the LLF National Law Firm at 888-535-3686 today or contact us online.

Financial Misconduct That Can Endanger Your License

Financial misconduct poses a huge threat to licensed professionals, as it often triggers criminal investigations, disciplinary action, and the potential loss of licensure. Such misconduct can take many forms, including:

  • Embezzlement–misappropriating or misusing funds that have been entrusted to you by a client or employer
  • Fraud–falsifying documents, submitting inaccurate claims, or manipulating financial records.
  • Bribery/Corruption–offering or accepting something of value to influence decisions
  • Money laundering–hiding the origins of illegally obtained funds
  • Insider trading–trading a public company’s securities based on confidential information about the company.
  • Improper billing–charging clients, customers, or patients for services not rendered or exaggerating the scope of care provided.

These types of financial misconduct can result in severe repercussions, including audits, repayment demands, criminal prosecution, and suspension or revocation of your license.

How Experienced Professional License Defense Lawyers Can Help

It’s critical that you take any investigations of your professional actions by your state board seriously. You’ve worked too hard to attain your license to allow it to be jeopardized by a misunderstanding or mistake.

The skilled Professional License Defense Team of the LLF National Law Firm can help protect everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve. We’ll help guide you through the complex rules and procedures that govern licensing boards and disciplinary actions, as well as negotiate with them on your behalf. We will also conduct a careful review of the facts, pinpoint flaws or inconsistencies in the allegations against you, and generally build a strong defense.

Call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to get started. We want to ensure that we protect your rights and reputation and help you achieve the best outcome possible.

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