A former funeral home owner, Carie Hallford, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for defrauding grieving families by providing fake ashes in urns made of concrete instead of the actual remains of their loved ones. Along with her ex-husband Jon Hallford, she engaged in a fraudulent scheme that involved swindling $130,000 in funeral expenses from customers.

Carie Hallford pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud, admitting to deceiving both customers and the federal government. The fraudulent activities also extended to obtaining $900,000 in COVID-19 pandemic relief meant for small businesses. The US Attorney for the District of Colorado, Peter McNeilly, condemned their actions, highlighting their disregard for human dignity.

FBI Denver special agent Amanda Koldjeski stated that Carie Hallford exploited grieving families and the government for personal gain, neglecting the dignity of the deceased and violating regulations. The couple misused the government loans on luxury items like high-end cars, cryptocurrency investments, and designer clothing brands such as Gucci and Tiffany & Co.

Carie Hallford has been ordered to pay $1.07 million in restitution and faces three years of supervised release. The couple mishandled around 190 bodies, manipulating financial transactions, customer interactions, and official paperwork related to their funeral home business. They were arrested in 2023 after nearly 200 decaying bodies were discovered improperly stored at their funeral home in Penrose, Colorado.

Hallford’s sentencing on state charges is scheduled for April 24, as reported by the New York Times. The case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of exploiting vulnerable individuals and misusing public funds for personal gain.