Trial date set for Carie Hallford in federal wire fraud case
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - A trial date of April 14 has been set for Carie Hallford in her federal wire fraud case, according to court documents.
Jon Hallford has accepted a supplement to his plea deal, but Carie has chosen to go to trial. The pair are the former owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, CO, where nearly 200 bodies were found decomposing in October of 2023.
RELATED: Who are Jon and Carie Hallford, owners of Penrose Funeral Home ‘Return to Nature’
Last year, the two pled guilty to charges relating to the wire fraud. The agreement stipulated that they would pay a minimum of $1,012,300 in restitution, though the amount given to each victim would be determined at sentencing.
However, on Feb. 24, a judge ruled that the plea agreement "was not in the public interest."
In return, the Hallfords had the option to accept a new plea agreement supplement (which could add more time to their sentence) or reject, head to trial, and take a gamble on a jury. Jon Hallford accepted a plea agreement supplement, which could allow for the potential of him facing more time at sentencing. His sentencing is scheduled for March 20th.
According to a sentencing statement for Jon Hallford, the Hallfords "took out approximately $882,300 in COVID-relief funds through fraudulent loan statements and certifications."
The court alleges the funds were used for personal reasons, including to buy a $92,000 car. The couple is also accused of using the funds for jewelry, cosmetic surgery, and vacations.
Court documents also allege that Jon texted Carie on May 5, 2020 saying, "I don't give a f*** about this family, I'll give a f*** about what's happening in Penrose are not going to prison and getting the f*** out of this community. My one and only focus is keeping us out of jail, what is yours?"
Also according to court documents, Jon Hallford anticipated getting $2 million in COVID-relief funds, and instead of being worried about the mounting problems at the funeral home, "instead weighed only the options of personal extravagance and building 'a several hundred dollar nest egg.'"
"I honestly wish six months ago I had realized we were not getting 2 million, or that you [Carie] would have made that clear to me when you realized I was thinking on those terms," read a text message allegedly sent by Jon. "Had I realized what was actually happening I would have never bought that Denali or Land Rover."
KRDO13 broke this story in 2023, and we have covered the situation extensively. All reporting related to the Return to Nature Funeral Home and the Hallfords can be found at the links below:
Body of Lies ------ Funeral Home Investigation
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