A man has been charged in Pasco County in connection with the sale of what authorities called a "fake" burial plot.
- Michael Ritz, 49, charged with grand theft
- Authorities say he pocketed money from March sale of 'fake' burial plot
- Customer was reimbursed by funeral home
Michael J. Ritz, 49, of Trinity, was charged with grand theft.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said Ritz sold a burial plot through Grace Memorial Gardens and charged the customer $2,410. That happened in March.
In November, the customer went to the funeral home and said she'd changed her mind about the purchase. That's when they determined that the plot was not actually sold.
Ritz is accused of pocketing the money by putting his own name on the check.
Grace Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home reimbursed the customer and fired Ritz, the Sheriff's Office said. Authorities said Ritz later obtained employment at Memory Gardens on Lake Avenue in Tampa.
The case is still under investigation.