Colorado funeral home owners accused of mishandling 190 bodies charged with Covid-19 relief loan fraud, officials say

The owners of a Colorado funeral home accused of mishandling nearly 200 sets of human remains are now facing charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $880,000 in Covid-19 relief funds and using it for personal expenses like trips and jewelry, prosecutors said.

The owners of a Colorado funeral home accused of mishandling nearly 200 sets of human remains are now facing charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $880,000 in Covid-19 relief funds and using it for personal expenses like trips and jewelry, federal prosecutors said. Jon and Carie Hallford each face federal charges, including 13 counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado said in a news release Monday. The Hallfords are accused of using $882,300 in pandemic relief loans meant to help support small businesses on things like “a vehicle, multiple vacations, entertainment, dining, tuition for a minor child, cryptocurrency, cosmetic medical procedures, jewelry” and items from Amazon, an indictment filed in the US District Court of Colorado said. A judge on Monday scheduled an arraignment for each defendant for Thursday, court records show. An attorney for Carie Hallford told CNN they have no comment. CNN reached out to the Colorado Public Defender’s Office for comment on behalf of Jon Hallford. The Hallfords also face state charges related to the October discovery in of 190 sets of human remains improperly stored at their Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado. The facility said it offered “green burials,” without embalming fluid, in a biodegradable casket or “none at all.” Their arraignments on those charges are scheduled for June 6. Investigators were called to the funeral home after receiving a report of an odor coming from the building, Fremont County officials said at the time.