A Winnipeg Funeral Director and Embalmer is facing fraud and forgery charges.

Winnipeg Police say Mike Knysh, who owned and operated Knysh Funeral Chapel from 1995 to 2015, sold pre-arranged funeral plans to nine victims but did not hold the money in trust, which is a requirement of the Public Utilities Board.

Police allege the amount stolen from the victims was $35,000.

Sgt. Shaun Veldman with the financial crimes unit says police started to investigate about a year ago after potential victims and members of the funeral industry came to them.

“A member in the industry was dealing with the fallout of some of these discoveries not being backed by insurance companies,” Veldman said. “Once the investigation begins and you start delving into it you discover more as you go along.”

“We weren’t aware of all the victims at the outset and some we came to discover after.”

Police say Knysh was also selling pre-arranged funeral insurance plans, which were held and administered by several different insurance company providers. Police also say on 13 occasions between Jan. 2004 and Dec. 2014, fraudulent Funeral Director’s Statement of Death’s were created for people who weren’t dead.

Police say $83,000 was collected between the 13 insurance policies.

Veldman says people who have concerns about pre-funeral arrangements they’ve purchased should contact the Manitoba Funeral Board, which would be able to answer their questions and alert police if something is off.

Veldman adds a separate investigation is underway into Wheeler Funeral Homes but he doesn’t believe people should be concerned about the industry as a whole.

“This is specific to this individual and I don’t think it’s a common problem,” he said.

Knysh faces four counts of Fraud over $5,000, seven counts of Fraud under $5,000 and 13 counts of Forgery.

He was released from custody with conditions.