Gregory J. Stefan Jr., a 54-year-old headstone salesman from Upper Merion, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged with seven counts of wire fraud after allegedly defrauding hundreds of customers across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. According to federal authorities, Stefan, through his businesses 1843 LLC and Colonial Memorials, collected large upfront payments from grieving families for custom headstones but often failed to deliver on his promises.
Investigators report that Stefan defrauded over 500 customers, taking more than $1.5 million since 2018. He allegedly ignored requests for updates or provided false reassurances without fulfilling orders. This isn’t Stefan’s first legal trouble, as local news and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office had issued warnings about his fraudulent practices for years.
If convicted, Stefan faces a potential 140-year prison sentence.