Additional arrest made in connection to Johnson Funeral Home case
On Oct. 26, 18 decomposing bodies were discovered inside Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Services
DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) - An additional arrest has been made in the ongoing case involving Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Douglas.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) released on Sunday, Dec. 8, that James A. Sirmans, 52, of Fitzgerald, has been arrested and charged.
He is facing the following charges:
- Two counts of insurance fraud
- One count of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud
The charges stem from a 2023 investigation into an attempt by Sirmans to fraudulently obtain additional life insurance proceeds by altering the cause of death on a death certificate in 2022, according to the GBI.
The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance John F. King secured the warrants for his arrest and charged him with the following:
- Theft by deception
- Forgery
- Submitting fraudulent vital records
- Conspiracy to commit insurance fraud
- Two counts of insurance fraud
The GBI also charged Johnson with one count of theft by taking and six counts of violation of vital records registration in relation to the ongoing investigation into the remains found in his funeral home and his related business practices, according to the GBI.
Sirmans was taken into custody with the assistance of the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office without incident. He was booked into the Coffee County Jail and was later released on bond.
The GBI charged Johnson with theft by taking and six counts of violation of vital records registration in relation to the ongoing investigation into the remains found in his funeral home and his related business practices, according to the GBI.
Previous coverage:
- How did the Douglas funeral home pass inspection with decomposing bodies on site?
- Funeral directors offer free services to families impacted by Johnson Funeral Home
- Douglas funeral home owner faces additional charges
- District attorney requests bond hearing delay for Douglas funeral home director
- 12 of 18 of decomposing bodies found inside of Douglas funeral home identified
- GBI answers commonly asked questions regarding Johnson Funeral Home in Douglas
- ‘I can’t have peace of mind because I don’t know what’s in that coffin’: Families demanding answers
- Douglas funeral home director transported to Tift County Jail
- Albany funeral home manager speaks on proper cremation protocol
- Douglas funeral home owner facing eviction charged after discovery of 18 decomposing bodies
- Funeral home owner arrested after 18 decomposing bodies were found during eviction
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