Headstone Business Owner Sentenced to Six Years for Defrauding Grieving Families

A Pattern of Exploitation

Elena Moreno built her business on the most vulnerable moments of human experience. Operating Angelic Monuments in San Antonio, she collected money from grieving families for headstones that never materialized . When Judge Stephanie Boyd sentenced her to six years in prison this week, it marked the end of a devastating scheme that affected 16 families who paid her at least $50,000 combined .

Victim Norma Sifuentes captured the emotional toll during her court testimony: "What was delivered by Ms. Moreno was pain, agony and torture for me, my family and the loss of my husband. We have suffered quite a bit, and she has put us through nothing but hell until now" . Another victim, Veronica Sanchez, described the heartbreak of visiting her father's grave: "It hurts to go and visit him. He has no stone," she said through tears after paying $4,252 for a headstone that never arrived .

The case began unraveling when investigative reporting exposed the scheme. KSAT first reported on the business in February 2024, when six family members came forward saying they had paid more than $25,000 combined but received no headstones . Three weeks later, six more families shared similar experiences .

The Investigation Unfolds

Police arrested Moreno in March 2024 after multiple families reported similar experiences . The initial arrest warrant focused on one family who paid $8,508.09 for a headstone they never received . Moreno had told families about delays due to COVID-19, buying herself time while continuing to operate .

The scope of the fraud became clear as more victims emerged. Documentation showed new families had spent almost $15,000, bringing the total to around $40,000 before the final tally reached $50,000. The Better Business Bureau assigned Angelic Monuments an "F-" rating and launched its own investigation .

Moreno pleaded guilty to felony theft in October 2025 , but her legal troubles continued when she failed to pay full restitution. Judge Boyd had ordered complete restitution by December, but Moreno only paid approximately 70% of the amount .

Justice Served, Families Divided

During sentencing, Moreno attempted to explain her actions. She told the court she never intended to take people's money or cause additional pain, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and an abusive partner as reasons for delivery delays . "I'm heartbroken," she said. "I hurt these families" .

The six-year sentence brought mixed emotions for victims. Sifuentes found closure in the outcome: "Her birthday will be coming up in July, so it's a good birthday gift for my daughter — for Rebekah — to see that this person has been sentenced." She reflected on her testimony: "I came and fought for you — out of respect for you and my children and myself. We did it" .

Beyond prison time, Moreno is permanently barred from working in the funeral home industry, home health care industry, or with minors . Concerns arose when victims learned she was working at another San Antonio funeral business, though she confirmed she reports to a supervisor and doesn't handle money .

Protecting Future Families

This case highlights the vulnerability of families during grief and the importance of verifying business credentials before making significant payments. As victim Adriana Terrance noted, the financial impact extended beyond the initial payment: "The financial loss has been much more than what I actually paid her since her actions forced me to purchase a new headstone, pay filing fees for a civil lawsuit, and loss of wages due to the court proceedings. Above all, there is no financial value that can be placed on all the emotional distress and additional grief caused by this situation" .

The sentence sends a clear message about exploiting grieving families, but the emotional scars remain. While some families like DiEnno eventually obtained headstones from other companies, several families still lack proper memorials for their loved ones . For these families, justice may have been served, but the healing process continues as they work to honor their departed relatives properly.