MOUNT VERNON, NY – Michael Naughton, 55, of Baldwin, New York, is facing a 20-count indictment after allegedly running a sham funeral operation, Camelot Funeral Home, and ripping off vulnerable families during their most difficult hours. Attorney General Letitia James announced the charges today, detailing a pattern of fraud and gross mismanagement that left bodies decomposing and cremated remains neglected.
The Attorney General’s office alleges Naughton continued to operate as a funeral director despite his license being revoked back in 2019 by the New York State Department of Health (DOH). Between May 2025 and January 2026, Naughton is accused of taking thousands of dollars from dozens of New Yorkers, promising full funeral services he was legally barred from providing. He allegedly negotiated prices, arranged transport, presided over services, and oversaw disposition of remains – all while operating illegally.
The stench of deceit – and decomposition – hit a boiling point in January 2026 when a DOH inspection uncovered a horrifying scene at Camelot Funeral Home. Inspectors found 13 bodies in various states of decay scattered throughout the facility. Six were located in the chapels, three were rotting in a detached garage – stacked on top of each other – and 17 boxes of unclaimed cremated remains were discovered in the basement. State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald immediately issued an emergency order shutting down Camelot.
“Planning a loved one’s funeral can be among the most difficult and vulnerable times in a person’s life,” stated Attorney General James. “Naughton heartlessly took advantage of New Yorkers while knowingly operating his funeral home without a license and failed to take proper care of the remains in his possession. I thank my partners in law enforcement for their partnership in holding Naughton accountable and providing some semblance of peace for the families of the deceased.”
The indictment also includes charges of forgery, specifically for allegedly falsifying a Burial Transit Permit – the document needed to legally transport a deceased person. Dr. McDonald echoed the severity of the situation, stating, “New Yorkers have the right to trust that they are receiving the funeral services they paid for and that the remains of their loved ones are being treated with the highest level of care during times of grief. The violations and alleged crimes uncovered at Camelot Funeral Home demonstrate why only licensed funeral directors should be entrusted with the care of human remains.”
Naughton is now facing the full weight of the law. The OAG’s Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau (CEFC) built the case, and the investigation remains ongoing. Families who believe they were victimized by Naughton and Camelot Funeral Home are urged to contact the Attorney General’s office. This case serves as a grim reminder that even in death, predators lurk, and the grieving are often the most vulnerable.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: NY AG
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source â†â€â€ÂÂÂ
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