Brooklyn DA announces more charges in body parts scheme

Local prosecutors say a Bronx funeral parlor is now part of a growing investigation into the sale of human body parts. Prosecutors Wednesday said that seven funeral home directors in the area pleaded

News 12 Staff

Oct 18, 2006, 11:10 PM

Updated 6,545 days ago

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Local prosecutors say a Bronx funeral parlor is now part of a growing investigation into the sale of human body parts. Prosecutors Wednesday said that seven funeral home directors in the area pleaded guilty to being part of the scheme. Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said they have agreed to cooperate with the investigation. It was not specified exactly where they were from, but Hynes said new charges in the case involve funeral homes in the Bronx, Manhattan and Rochester. New Jersey doctor Michael Mastromarino and three associates were charged in February with selling body parts without permission from the families. All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors said body parts from at least 1,000 corpses were illegally sold for medical transplants as part of the scheme.