Victims of Penrose funeral home give input on tentative federal plea deal of 15 years
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - On Friday, families victimized by the Return to Nature Funeral home owners Jon and Carie Hallford, discussed a potential plea deal with federal prosecutors in regards to the couple's 15 wire fraud-related charges.
Families told KRDO13 Investigates that U.S attorneys are considering a proposal of 15 years behind bars in federal prison for the couple, for one singular count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
Federal prosecutors allege the couple committed multiple acts of wire fraud while also pocketing money given to them for cremation services, as they purport that they victimized nearly 200 bodies, which were left to decompose in their funeral home in Penrose.
Families spent just under two hours in a meeting at Colorado Springs Police Headquarters from the morning into the early afternoon. They tell KRDO13 Investigates that they were glad to be able to give their input, since they were not included in discussions about the formulation of a state plea deal.
However, multiple families explain they're still divided on how much jail time, is the right amount of time.
"I'm not satisfied. I was hoping for a lot more," said Kelly Schloesser. Her mother was among those identified in the Penrose funeral home "What they did, you know, it's just horrendous to think that they're going to serve so little time." she explained.
Meanwhile, Bob Johnson whose wife was a victim of the scandal, said that securing jail time for the couple is all that matters to him.
"My position there was a plea deal would be acceptable to me as long as there was some jail time," Johnson said.
Others like Crystina Page, despite still being frustrated, are choosing to be positive.
"Is [15 years] making me as happy as hearing a much larger number? Absolutely not. But I think 15 is a reasonable number." said Page, who said that the deal is almost double the time that federal sentencing guidelines call for, which is around 6 to 8 years.
"They said this is our best chance. They're going for the best chances of getting it," Schloesser said to KRDO13 Investigates, about the jail time.
Families were told the plea deal is not final, and it may be a few weeks until it is officially filed in court.
The Hallfords have until Sept. 20, where their final arraignment waits in El Paso County court to enter a plea on their state charges. You can read the details of that plea deal here.
