Three former employees at the Tate Funeral Home were sentenced yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court for their roles in embezzling more than $110,000 from the central-city business. Major Jones, Jr., 46, of Flint, Mich., Derek M. Easterly, 48, of 1544 Tecumseh St., and Scottie O. Rodgers, 33, of 438 East Streicher St., were convicted in earlier hearings of felony theft by Judge Charles Wittenberg.

Jones was sentenced to 90 days in the county drug-treatment facility and placed on community control for five years. He is to make restitution payments on $66,500, which is the amount of money he stole from the funeral home at 2302 North Detroit Ave.

Rodgers was placed on community control for four years and ordered to serve 45 days in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio in Stryker. He was ordered to repay $44,000.

Easterly was placed on community control for three years and ordered to make restitution of $9,600.

Prosecutors said checks from insurance companies for services were deposited in bank accounts controlled by the defendants, who withdrew the money between Aug. 1, 2001, and November, 2002.

Jones, who served as funeral director, faces suspension or revocation of his license by the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. Ann Cunningham, executive director, said an investigation into the case has not been completed.

Rodgers was an administrator and Easterly was an administrative assistant at the mortuary.

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