NATCHEZ — In less than one month Natchez businessman and former Natchez Alderman Theodore “Bubber” West will face charges from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office that he sold uninsured pre-need funeral policies and improperly handled the money from those policies.

West’s administrative hearing on the matter has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 3 in Jackson.

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said that despite a 2006 cease and desist order in which West was ordered to stop selling the policies, West continued to sell uninsured pre-need policies at West Funeral Home.

Additionally, Hosemann maintains West’s trust account, which is meant to hold pre-need account funds, has a $95,000 deficiency.

September’s hearing has been delayed several months because West’s attorney, Rep. Earle Banks, was in session in Jackson.

“We’re pleased to see the matter moving forward,” Hosemann said.

West deferred all comments to his attorney, who could not be reached for comment.

Should the hearing officer rule on the secretary’s behalf, West would face several thousands of dollars in fines and would no longer be able to sell pre-need accounts.