A funeral director accused of taking money from clients over a 16-year period is taking his case to trial. Fifty-two year old William “BJ” Elias is charged with embezzling $136,000 in money that people paid in advance for funerals. Judge Cynthia Raccuglia last week set an October 5 trial date. Besides having to pay the money back, a conviction would mean Elias could be fined up to $25,000 and sentenced to up to five years in prison. He was with the Elias Funeral Home in Streator.
October trial scheduled for funeral director charged with embezzling
