Mortician gets 5 years in body parts case

NEWARK, N.J., June 1 (UPI) -- A Newark, N.J., judge says a former funeral home director must spend five years in prison for his role in a body parts theft ring.

Stephen Finley, 45, drew the sentence Monday from Superior Court Judge Peter Vazquez, Newsday reported.

Finley pleaded guilty in February to desecrating human remains. He admitted participating in a scheme led by former Fort Lee, N.J., oral surgeon Michael Mastromarino in which he was paid to remove body parts from about 40 corpses without getting permission from next of kin, the newspaper said.

Finley could have received 10 years in prison had Vazquez negated a prearranged plea deal as prosecutors had requested. Instead, the judge said prosecutors are free to bring more charges against the former mortician for continuing to work after his license was revoked.

Mastromarino is serving an 18- to 54-year prison sentence, Newsday said.