An East Hartford funeral director was arrested today as a result of an extensive investigation into the former Hartford Trade Services Company and its affiliates and employees.

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KEVIN K. RILEY, age 52, of 20 Pinney Road, Somersville, was charged with one count each of Corrupt Organizations and Racketeering Activity (CORA) and Larceny in the First Degree; two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in the First Degree; 11 counts of Larceny in the Second Degree; three counts each of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in the Second Degree; one count each of Criminal Attempt to Commit Larceny in the Second Degree, Larceny in the Third Degree, Criminal Attempt to Commit Larceny in the Third Degree, and five counts of Conspiracy to Commit Forgery in the Second Degree.

The arrest is the result of an investigation into the alleged theft of money and property from deceased persons and the alleged double billing of the State of Connecticut for expenses related to the transport and burial of deceased persons by Hartford Trade Service LLC of East Hartford.

The two-year investigation conducted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau and Elder Abuse Unit of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney has been completed with Mr. Riley's arrest.

The investigation was initiated by a complaint from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, which regulates funeral homes.

At the time of the alleged offenses, Mr. Riley was a licensed funeral director and owned funeral homes in Coventry, East Hartford and Norwalk. He also had a contract with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the transportation of deceased individuals whose deaths were investigated by the medical examiner's office.

The allegations in the arrest warrant are charges only, and Mr. Riley is presumed to be innocent until proved guilty in a court of law.

Mr. Riley was released on a $500,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court, G.A. No. 14, on Thursday, October 29, 2009.

Larceny in the First Degree is a class B felony carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years incarceration and a $15,000 fine. Larceny in the Second Degree is a class C felony with authorized penalties of up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of $10,000. Larceny in the Third Degree and Forgery in the Second Degree are class D felonies, each calling for maximum penalties of 5 years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

CORA is an unclassified felony with a maximum penalty of 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $25,000.

The case is being prosecuted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Chief State's Attorney's Rocky Hill office.