Man, 63, Pleads Guilty to Bogus Cremation Policy Sales
A Santa Ana man accused of stealing thousands of dollars from elderly Ventura County residents by selling bogus cremation policies has pleaded guilty to 16 theft charges, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Irwin Karp, 63, is facing six years in state prison as a result of his plea in Ventura County Superior Court.
Tuesday marked the second time Karp has pleaded guilty to the charges. Last month the defendant was scheduled to be sentenced to probation under an agreement with the judge.
But in a surprise move, Superior Court Judge Art Gutierrez told the defendant the jurist could not keep his promise after hearing evidence about the number of seniors who were cheated.
Gutierrez allowed Karp to withdraw his guilty plea. The case was scheduled to begin with a preliminary hearing today, but Karp avoided that process by entering a second guilty plea Tuesday.
“There is no turning back this time,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Audry Rohn said. “There has never been an offer from us, and there is no offer from the court. . . . He pled straight up.”
Karp is expected to be ordered to pay more than $90,000 in restitution to 88 local residents. Authorities believe there have been many more victims throughout the state.
Karp is scheduled to be sentenced Jan 20.
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