New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment of Michael Naughton, 55, of Baldwin, New York, for allegedly operating as an unlicensed funeral director and defrauding mourning New Yorkers out of thousands of dollars. The 20-count indictment, unsealed today in Westchester County Court before Judge Melissa A. Loehr, charges Naughton with illegally providing funeral directing services for dozens of decedents at Camelot Funeral Home in Mount Vernon after his license had been revoked. A January 2026 inspection of Camelot by the New York State Department of Health (DOH) discovered 13 bodies in various states of decomposition and 17 boxes of cremated remains.
“Planning a loved one’s funeral can be among the most difficult and vulnerable times in a person’s life,” said 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.”
“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,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “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. Through the hard work of the Department’s Bureau of Funeral Directing, the Attorney General’s Office and our local partners, we are sending a clear message that anyone who violates state laws and regulations will be held accountable.”…