Brent Cassity

Brent Cassity
Born:	1966 Missouri
Charges:	Conspiracy to commit mail fraud, Wire fraud, Money laundering
Sentence:	5 years
Facility:
Status:	Released

Brent Cassity (born 1966) is a former funeral home executive who was convicted in one of the largest fraud schemes in the death care industry's history. As president of National Prearranged Services (NPS) and Forever Enterprises, Cassity orchestrated a scheme that defrauded approximately 150,000 families who had purchased prepaid funeral contracts, causing losses estimated at over $600 million. The collapse of the Cassity family's funeral empire revealed one of the most extensive frauds ever perpetrated against grieving families and became a cautionary tale about the need for stronger regulation of the preneed funeral industry.

Summary

The Cassity family built one of the largest networks of funeral homes and preneed funeral services in the United States, collecting hundreds of millions of dollars from families seeking to prepay for funeral arrangements. However, instead of properly safeguarding these funds in trust accounts or purchasing legitimate insurance policies to guarantee future services, Brent Cassity and his co-conspirators diverted the money to support lavish lifestyles, struggling business ventures, and various personal investments. When the scheme collapsed in 2008, tens of thousands of families discovered that the funeral services they had paid for were not guaranteed, leaving many to pay twice or forgo services entirely.

The case highlighted significant gaps in state and federal oversight of the preneed funeral industry, an area where consumers are particularly vulnerable due to the emotional circumstances surrounding death planning. Multiple states subsequently strengthened their regulations governing prepaid funeral contracts.

Background

Brent Cassity was born in 1966 into a family that had built a significant presence in the funeral industry. His father, James Douglas Cassity, founded National Prearranged Services in the 1970s, and the company grew to become one of the largest sellers of prepaid funeral contracts in the country. The family also controlled Forever Enterprises, which owned and operated dozens of funeral homes, cemeteries, and related businesses across multiple states.

Brent Cassity assumed leadership roles in the family businesses and became president of NPS. Under his direction, the company aggressively marketed prepaid funeral contracts, promising families that their funeral expenses would be covered when the time came. The preneed funeral industry relies on the principle that funds collected today will be available to pay for services years or decades in the future, requiring careful financial management and regulatory compliance.

Indictment, Prosecution, and Sentencing

The Fraud Scheme

Federal prosecutors established that instead of properly funding the prepaid contracts, the Cassitys systematically looted the trust accounts and insurance policies meant to back customer obligations. The scheme operated for years by using new customer payments to cover obligations coming due, creating a Ponzi-like structure that required ever-increasing sales to survive. Meanwhile, the family diverted funds to personal use, including luxury real estate, expensive vehicles, and failed business ventures unrelated to funeral services.

The fraud was facilitated by complex corporate structures designed to obscure the flow of funds and by the family's control over Lincoln Memorial Life Insurance Company, which issued policies meant to guarantee funeral benefits. The family essentially used one company to issue worthless guarantees to another, creating the illusion of financial security while draining assets.

Collapse and Investigation

The scheme unraveled in 2008 when state insurance regulators in Texas seized Lincoln Memorial Life Insurance Company after discovering its insolvency. The seizure triggered the collapse of the entire enterprise, as the insurance backing for thousands of prepaid contracts was suddenly worthless. State and federal investigations followed, revealing the scope of the fraud and the number of families affected. Missouri alone had approximately 50,000 affected policyholders.

Guilty Plea and Sentencing

Brent Cassity pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. In September 2013, he was sentenced to five years in federal prison. His father, James Douglas Cassity, received a longer sentence for his role as the scheme's mastermind. Several other family members and associates also faced criminal charges and civil liability related to the fraud.

Prison Experience

Brent Cassity reported to federal prison to serve his five-year sentence. He was released after serving his term and completing any required supervised release period. The relatively shorter sentence compared to his father's reflected Cassity's cooperation with authorities and his lesser role in originating the scheme, though prosecutors emphasized that he actively participated in and profited from the fraud for years.

Public Statements and Positions

At sentencing, Cassity expressed remorse for the harm caused to families who had trusted his companies with their funeral planning. His attorneys emphasized that he had not originated the fraudulent scheme and argued that he deserved leniency for his cooperation. Prosecutors countered that regardless of who started the fraud, Cassity actively participated in deceiving customers for years and enriched himself at their expense.

The case generated significant attention within the funeral industry and among consumer advocates, who pointed to it as evidence of the need for stronger preneed funeral regulations and more rigorous state oversight of trust funds and insurance products in the death care sector.

Terminology

• Preneed Funeral Contract: An agreement to purchase funeral services in advance of death, typically paid for over time, with funds held in trust or backed by insurance until services are needed.

• Trust Fund: Money held by a third party for future use, in this context meant to guarantee that funds paid for prepaid funerals will be available when services are required.

See also

• Prison Consultants
• White Collar Crime