A Colorado couple, Jon Hallford and Carie Hallford, owners of the now-closed Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs, have been indicted on federal charges of fraudulently obtaining $882,300 in pandemic relief funds. The indictment, filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, alleges that the Hallfords submitted false information to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and received three separate payments totaling nearly $900,000.
According to court documents, the Hallfords made material misrepresentations on their application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, falsely claiming their eligibility and denying engagement in illegal activities or delinquency on child support obligations. The couple’s initial court appearance on the indictment was scheduled for Monday.
If convicted on the 15 counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the Hallfords could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. No attorneys for the Hallfords were listed on federal records.
This indictment adds to the legal troubles the couple already faces. They were previously charged with over 200 state counts, including corpse abuse, money laundering, forgery, and theft. The trial for these charges is tentatively set for October.
The investigation into the Hallfords began in October 2023 when approximately 200 decomposing bodies were discovered in a dilapidated building in Penrose, south of Colorado Springs. Neighbors had reported a foul smell emanating from the premises. Reports indicate that the funeral home used this building as a mortuary.
In addition to the corpse decay scandal, the Hallfords are suspected of replacing cremated remains with concrete mix in urns and providing fake ashes to grieving families. The indictment related to the pandemic relief funds alleges that the couple misused the money for personal expenses, including a vehicle, vacations, entertainment, cosmetic medical procedures, jewelry, and unrelated purchases from Amazon.
The indictment highlights that the Hallfords certified on the loan agreement that the SBA funds would be used as working capital to alleviate the economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Do you think cases like this, where individuals exploit pandemic relief funds for personal gain, undermine the trust and support needed during times of crisis? How can we ensure that relief funds are distributed fairly and effectively to those who truly need them?