LUCAS COUNTY– An Ohio man accused of running an illegal funeral service has been indicted on seven additional charges.
Shawnte Hardin, 41, was originally indicted on 37 counts related to providing funeral services without a license. Hardin, according to records, has operated several businesses in Lucas, Cuyahoga, Summit, and Franklin counties since at least 2019. The business names included Hussain Funeral Directors, Celebration of Life Memorial Chapels, Hardin Funeral Home, Inc., American Mortuary Services and Transportation, and Shawnte Davon Hardin Services, LLC.
Hardin was recently in the news when the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation removed two bodies from a salon he was using for alleged makeshift funeral services at 1615 E. Livingston Ave. in Columbus.
The original charges filed against him:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony.
- Three counts of tampering with records, third-degree felonies.
- One count of theft, a fourth-degree felony.
- Eight counts of abuse of a corpse, all fifth-degree felonies.
- Five counts of failure to file taxes, all fifth-degree felonies.
- Five counts of passing bad checks, all fifth-degree felonies.
- Two counts of identity fraud, both fifth-degree felonies.
- Two counts of telecommunications fraud, both fifth-degree felonies.
- Six counts of representation as a funeral director while unlicensed, two unclassified felonies and four unclassified misdemeanors.
- Single counts of fifth-degree felony criminal tools and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
- One count of operating an unlicensed funeral home, an unclassified felony.
- One count of failure to refrigerate a human body, an unclassified misdemeanor.
New charges:
- Three counts of representing as a funeral director while unlicensed
- One count of abuse of a corpse
- One count of intimidation of a crime victim or witness
- One count of theft
- One count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle
If convicted, Hardin could spend decades in prison.
