Michigan Freezes Oklahoma Attorney's Assets In Cemetery Investigation

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A Michigan judge freezes the assets of a lawyer in an investigation into the possible mismanagement of millions of dollars in cemetery trust funds.<br/><br/>A restraining order Michigan

Friday, January 26th 2007, 6:21 am

By: News On 6

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A Michigan judge freezes the assets of a lawyer in an investigation into the possible mismanagement of millions of dollars in cemetery trust funds.

A restraining order Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox obtained Wednesday temporarily froze more than $22 million in an account belonging to attorney Craig Bush.

Bush sold 28 Michigan cemeteries to Las Vegas-based Indian Nation LLC for $31 million. Indian Nation is managed by Oklahoma oilman Clayton Smart.

Cox alleges that Smart and Bush mismanaged money that should have been set aside to fund the cemeteries.

Authorities say Smart transferred the $31 million to his Oklahoma-based oil company, Quest Minerals and Exploration. Records show another $25 million was invested in high-risk mutual funds.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for February 2nd.