TOLEDO (AP) — A man convicted of running unlicensed funeral operations in Franklin and three other counties across Ohio has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.
A Lucas County Common Pleas Court judge had found 41-year-old Shawnte Hardin guilty of dozens of felony counts earlier this month.
Hardin has maintained his innocence and was acquitted on six counts.
He was ordered to serve a minimum of 11 years and 10 months to 14 years in prison.
Authorities have said Hardin ran funeral services in Franklin, Summit, Cuyahoga and Lucas counties without having a license.
He had pleaded not guilty to various counts, including tampering with records, passing bad checks and identity fraud.