Upper Darby firms cited for alleged swindle

Two companies that supply cemetery markers were hit with an official civil complaint from the state Attorney General's Office on Tuesday after more than 50 complaints were sent to the Bureau of Consumer Protection about the companies' failures to deliver promised products on time over three years.

Lifestone by Stefan; Stefan Memorials; and Gregory J. Stefan Sr., the owner of both companies, allegedly "failed to timely delivery cemetery markers and other similar items to consumers in the Philadelphia area and surrounding suburbs," according to a statement from the office of Attorney General Kathleen Kane. In at least one case, an order from December 2012 remained unfulfilled in August 2015.

"We have folks who wanted to achieve some measure of closure in honoring their loved ones," said Basil Merenda, Chief Deputy Attorney General and Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection.

He described Stefan's work as "widespread deceptive business and marketing practices" and labeled it "reprehensible."

Stefan's businesses would use death notices to target grieving families and send mailings that were intended to look like bills and sometimes implied a connection with the cemetery the families had used, Merenda said.

The complaint seeks thousands of dollars in restitution for the allegedly swindled consumers.

The companies are based in Upper Darby. Stefan did not respond to requests for comment.

- Matthew Nussbaum