Oct. 5 trial date set in alleged Streator funeral scam

OTTAWA — A former Streator funeral director will stand trial Oct. 5 for allegedly pocketing money that clients gave him to pre-pay their funerals.

William “B.J.” Elias, 52, of Streator appeared with his lawyer Thursday and asked to be placed back on the trial call. He had previously entered not-guilty pleas to 14 felony counts of theft and violating the Illinois Funeral Funds Act but his case was postponed in part by the novel coronavirus pandemic, which effectively halted trial settings.

Judge Cynthia M. Raccuglia scheduled an autumn trial, a timetable that increases the likelihood that Elias and his lawyer can cross-examine witnesses not wearing surgical masks and finding jurors whose attention won’t be diverted by fear of infection.

Elias will next appear for a motions hearing on Sept. 24.

Elias could face up to 7 years in prison if convicted of misusing “pre-need” funeral funds. He's accused of stealing from several restricted funds in amounts ranging from $2,300 to $11,580 from seven depositors, some of them married couples.

Most of the charges are Class 4 and Class 3 felonies, punishable by 1-3 years in prison and 2-5 years, respectively. Three of the theft counts, however, were elevated to Class 2 felonies (3-7 years in prison) because the victims are over 60 years of age.

Actually, the Illinois State Comptroller’s Office alleges a larger figure was taken and more victims fleeced. An agency press release alleged Elias stole $136,112 in pre-need funeral funds from 31 victims between 2003 and 2019. A June Illinois comptroller’s order said Elias submitted false annual reports to cover up the theft.

His pre-need license was revoked in February 2019 and his funeral director’s license was revoked in October.