A local funeral home owner convicted of fraud for collecting thousands in state funeral assistance funds while also charging families for the services was sentenced Friday to three days in jail.

Dickinson Family Funeral Homes owner Darrell Dickinson, 59, of W5220 Boma Road, also was sentenced to six months in the La Crosse County Jail, but that term can be served on electronic monitoring. A jail report date was not set.
The sentence serves as a deterrent to those who consider violating the public’s trust, said La Crosse County Circuit Judge Todd Bjerke.

“I think you are a man of good character and good honor, but with the decisions you made, you do need to pay the price,” Bjerke told Dickinson.

The state Department of Justice’s 20-page criminal complaint accused Dickinson of filing fraudulent claims with the state for funeral and cemetery assistance available for Medicaid recipients and indigent people, while still charging their families full costs for services.

Dickinson pleaded guilty July 3 to two felony charges of public assistance fraud, though the complaint lists 27 similar cases between 2003 and 2006. Dickinson has paid $55,000 in restitution.

“This is not a mistake … this is not once, twice, three times. I could deem that a mistake. It’s repeated up to as much as 27 times,” Bjerke said.

Assistant Attorney General Eric Defort called Dickinson’s actions “well thought out.” He deferred a sentencing decision to the court as part of the plea agreement.

“This is a decision to defraud community funds that are there for truly needy people who are indigent,” Defort said.

Dickinson’s actions were motivated by a desire to help families, not by personal greed, said defense attorney Keith Belzer, who asked Bjerke impose a $10,000 fine.

“He was helping people to illegally obtain more funding so that they could have an adequate funeral in their minds,” Belzer said. “That was illegal, there’s no question. To suggest that somehow, though, this was some sort of plan that was lining his pockets is just belied by the facts.”

Dickinson’s family and friends filled the courtroom Friday, with 12 testifying on his behalf. Most described him as a family- and faith-oriented man, honest and sensitive, who often helped families in financial distress over funeral costs.

Speaking for Dickinson’s four children, son Andrew called his father a loving man who thinks of others first.

“He has dedicated his whole life to the family funeral home, families we serve, and always puts them in top priority,” he said.

His father’s demeanor has deteriorated during the case from a confident and energetic person to someone who had an emotional and mental breakdown, Andrew said.

“His smile has been missed by us all,” he said.

The Rev. Tom O’Neill praised Dickinson’s comforting treatment of grieving families.

“I find him more of a fine funeral director than a felon,” he said. “I find him more of a friend than a felon.”

Dickinson acknowledged his actions were illegal and apologized to his family, friends and all La Crosse County residents.

“My intent was never to hurt someone,” he said. “It was always to help, but what I did was wrong and I realize that and I’m sorry.”

Funeral director Gary Sebranek, 58, of 6007 E. Robil Court, pleaded guilty to an identical charge of making a false claim in April 2006. He faces a $10,000 fine and nine months in jail when sentenced Friday.

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