Women ‘staged sham funerals for insurance cash’

TWO women accused of staging sham funerals to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in life insurance payments have pleaded not guilty in federal court in Los Angeles.

Faye Shilling, 60, and mortuary worker Jean Crump, 67, pleaded before US Judge Paul Abrams.

The two women were charged last week with mail and wire fraud. They remained free on $10,000 (e7,500) bond.