Funerals normally represent peace and union, but for two women planning a funeral presented an opportunity to cash in on life insurance.

In L.A, two women who allegedly participated in a plot to cash life insurance policies for fictitious individuals and stage funerals to create the appearance that someone had died have been arrested on federal fraud charges.

Earlier this week, FBI agents arrested Jean Crump, 67, and Faye Shilling, 60 and charged them with mail fraud and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud life insurance firms and lending companies out of more than $750,000.

It is thought that the two women pursued a three year campaign by cashing life insurance policies for non-existent people, whom they claimed had died. Allegedly the pair purchased burial plots, staged fake funerals and prepared fraudulent death certificates.

“The U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI are committed to bringing to justice anyone who engages in insurance fraud no matter how many shams or tricks they employ to cover their criminal activity,” said United States Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien.

The pair could be sentenced the maximum amount of 100 years in federal prison.