Colorado funeral home owners Jon and Carrie Hallford have pleaded guilty to federal charges after being accused of misusing $900,000 in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds. The Hallfords face 15 federal charges related to defrauding the U.S. government and customers of their funeral home, with court records indicating that they used the aid for personal expenses, including luxury vehicles, travel, and cryptocurrency investments.
A sentencing date for the federal charges is pending. In a separate, high-profile state case, the Hallfords face over 200 criminal charges related to the alleged improper storage of nearly 200 decomposing bodies at their Return to Nature funeral home in Penrose, Colorado. The state charges also allege the Hallfords sent families fake ashes in place of their loved ones’ remains.
The outcome of both cases remains to be determined.
