Latest news with #Infiniti
NBC News
3 hours ago
- NBC News
Funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 decaying bodies sentenced to 20 years in prison
DENVER — A Colorado funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 dead bodies in a decrepit building and sent grieving families fake ashes received the maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison Friday, for cheating customers and defrauding the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 aid. Jon Hallford, owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in federal court last year. Separately, Hallford pleaded guilty to 191 counts of corpse abuse in state court and will be sentenced in August. At Friday's hearing, federal prosecutors sought a 15-year sentence and Hallford's attorney asked for 10 years. Judge Nina Wang said that although the case focused on a single fraud charge, the circumstances and scale of Hallford's crime and the emotional damage to families warranted the longer sentence. 'This is not an ordinary fraud case,' she said. In court before the sentencing, Hallford told the judge that he opened Return to Nature to make a positive impact in people's lives, 'then everything got completely out of control, especially me.' 'I am so deeply sorry for my actions,' he said. 'I still hate myself for what I've done.' Hallford and his wife, Carie Hallford, were accused of storing the bodies between 2019 and 2023 and sending families fake ashes. Investigators described finding the bodies in 2023 stacked atop each other throughout a squat, bug-infested building in Penrose, a small town about a two-hour drive south of Denver. The morbid discovery revealed to many families that their loved ones weren't cremated and that the ashes they had spread or cherished were fake. In two cases, the wrong body was buried, according to court documents. Many families said it undid their grieving processes. Some relatives had nightmares, others have struggled with guilt, and at least one wondered about their loved one's soul. Among the victims who spoke during Friday's sentencing was a boy named Colton Sperry. With his head poking just above the lectern, he told the judge about his grandmother, who Sperry said was a second mother to him and died in 2019. Her body languished inside the Return to Nature building for four years until the discovery, which plunged Sperry into depression. He said he told his parents at the time, 'If I die too, I could meet my grandma in heaven and talk to her again.' His parents brought him to the hospital for a mental health check, which led to therapy and an emotional support dog. 'I miss my grandma so much,' he told the judge through tears. Federal prosecutors accused both Hallfords of pandemic aid fraud, siphoning the money and spending it and customer's payments on a GMC Yukon and Infiniti worth over $120,000 combined, along with $31,000 in cryptocurrency, luxury items from stores like Gucci and Tiffany & Co., and even laser body sculpting. Derrick Johnson told the judge that he traveled 3,000 miles to testify over how his mother was 'thrown into a festering sea of death.'
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Colorado funeral home owner gets 20 years for hiding 190 decaying bodies
A Colorado funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 dead bodies in a decrepit building and sent grieving families fake ashes received the maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison on Friday, for cheating customers and defrauding the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 aid. Funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 decaying bodies sentenced to 20 years in prison(Representative image/Reuters) Jon Hallford, owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in federal court last year. Separately, Hallford pleaded guilty to 191 counts of corpse abuse in state court and will be sentenced in August. At Friday's hearing, federal prosecutors sought a 15-year sentence and Hallford's attorney asked for 10 years. Judge Nina Wang said that although the case focused on a single fraud charge, the circumstances and scale of Hallford's crime and the emotional damage to families warranted the longer sentence. 'This is not an ordinary fraud case,' she said. In court before the sentencing, Hallford told the judge that he opened Return to Nature to make a positive impact in people's lives, 'then everything got completely out of control, especially me.' 'I am so deeply sorry for my actions,' he said. 'I still hate myself for what I've done.' Hallford and his wife, Carie Hallford, were accused of storing the bodies between 2019 and 2023 and sending families fake ashes. Investigators described finding the bodies in 2023 stacked atop each other throughout a squat, bug-infested building in Penrose, a small town about a two-hour drive south of Denver. The morbid discovery revealed to many families that their loved ones weren't cremated and that the ashes they had spread or cherished were fake. In two cases, the wrong body was buried, according to court documents. Many families said it undid their grieving processes. Some relatives had nightmares, others have struggled with guilt, and at least one wondered about their loved one's soul. Among the victims who spoke during Friday's sentencing was a boy named Colton Sperry. With his head poking just above the lectern, he told the judge about his grandmother, who Sperry said was a second mother to him and died in 2019. Her body languished inside the Return to Nature building for four years until the discovery, which plunged Sperry into depression. He said he told his parents at the time, 'If I die too, I could meet my grandma in heaven and talk to her again.' His parents brought him to the hospital for a mental health check, which led to therapy and an emotional support dog. 'I miss my grandma so much,' he told the judge through tears. Federal prosecutors accused both Hallfords of pandemic aid fraud, siphoning the money and spending it and customer's payments on a GMC Yukon and Infiniti worth over $120,000 combined, along with $31,000 in cryptocurrency, luxury items from stores like Gucci and Tiffany & Co., and even laser body sculpting. Derrick Johnson told the judge that he traveled 3,000 miles (4,830 kilometers) to testify over how his mother was 'thrown into a festering sea of death.' 'I lie awake wondering, was she naked? Was she stacked on top of others like lumber?" said Johnson. 'While the bodies rotted in secret, (the Hallfords) lived, they laughed and they dined,' he added. 'My mom's cremation money likely helped pay for a cocktail, a day at the spa, a first class flight.' Jon Hallford's attorney, Laura H. Suelau, asked for a lower sentence of 10 years in the hearing Friday, saying that Hallford 'knows he was wrong, he admitted he was wrong' and hasn't offered an excuse. His sentencing in the state case is scheduled in August. Asking for a 15 year sentence for Hallford, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Neff described the scene inside the building. Investigators couldn't move into some rooms because the bodies were piled so high and in various states of decay. FBI agents had to put boards down so they could walk above the fluid, which was later pumped out. Carie Hallford is scheduled to go to trial in the federal case in September, the same month as her next hearing in the state case in which she's also charged with 191 counts of corpse abuse.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
US funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 decaying bodies jailed for 20 years
A Colorado funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 dead bodies in a decrepit building and sent grieving families fake ashes received the maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison on Friday, for cheating customers and defrauding the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 aid. Crystina Page, right, hugs Beth Mosley after a Colorado funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 decomposing bodies was sentenced to 20 years prison on federal fraud charges.(AP) Jon Hallford, owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in federal court last year. Separately, Hallford pleaded guilty to 191 counts of corpse abuse in state court and will be sentenced in August. At Friday's hearing, federal prosecutors sought a 15-year sentence and Hallford's attorney asked for 10 years. Judge Nina Wang said that although the case focused on a single fraud charge, the circumstances and scale of Hallford's crime and the emotional damage to families warranted the longer sentence. 'This is not an ordinary fraud case,' she said. In court before the sentencing, Hallford told the judge that he opened Return to Nature to make a positive impact in people's lives, 'then everything got completely out of control, especially me.' 'I am so deeply sorry for my actions,' he said. 'I still hate myself for what I've done.' Hallford and his wife, Carie Hallford, were accused of storing the bodies between 2019 and 2023 and sending families fake ashes. Investigators described finding the bodies in 2023 stacked atop each other throughout a squat, bug-infested building in Penrose, a small town about a two-hour drive south of Denver. The morbid discovery revealed to many families that their loved ones weren't cremated and that the ashes they had spread or cherished were fake. In two cases, the wrong body was buried, according to court documents. Many families said it undid their grieving processes. Some relatives had nightmares, others have struggled with guilt, and at least one wondered about their loved one's soul. Among the victims who spoke during Friday's sentencing was a boy named Colton Sperry. With his head poking just above the lectern, he told the judge about his grandmother, who Sperry said was a second mother to him and died in 2019. Her body languished inside the Return to Nature building for four years until the discovery, which plunged Sperry into depression. He said he told his parents at the time, 'If I die too, I could meet my grandma in heaven and talk to her again.' His parents brought him to the hospital for a mental health check, which led to therapy and an emotional support dog. 'I miss my grandma so much,' he told the judge through tears. Federal prosecutors accused both Hallfords of pandemic aid fraud, siphoning the money and spending it and customer's payments on a GMC Yukon and Infiniti worth over $120,000 combined, along with $31,000 in cryptocurrency, luxury items from stores like Gucci and Tiffany & Co., and even laser body sculpting. Derrick Johnson told the judge that he traveled 3,000 miles (4,830 kilometers) to testify over how his mother was 'thrown into a festering sea of death.' 'I lie awake wondering, was she naked? Was she stacked on top of others like lumber?" said Johnson. 'While the bodies rotted in secret, (the Hallfords) lived, they laughed and they dined,' he added. 'My mom's cremation money likely helped pay for a cocktail, a day at the spa, a first class flight.' Jon Hallford's attorney, Laura H. Suelau, asked for a lower sentence of 10 years in the hearing Friday, saying that Hallford 'knows he was wrong, he admitted he was wrong' and hasn't offered an excuse. His sentencing in the state case is scheduled in August. Asking for a 15 year sentence for Hallford, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Neff described the scene inside the building. Investigators couldn't move into some rooms because the bodies were piled so high and in various states of decay. FBI agents had to put boards down so they could walk above the fluid, which was later pumped out. Carie Hallford is scheduled to go to trial in the federal case in September, the same month as her next hearing in the state case in which she's also charged with 191 counts of corpse abuse.
Miami Herald
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
2026 Infiniti QX60 Arrives With A Substantial Price Bump
Infiniti has revealed the refreshed-for-2026 QX60 lineup, which gains a new Sport trim to replace the Sensory model from last year. More than just a name change, the Sport also adds Dark Blue upholstery, a black headliner, dark exterior accents, an S badge on the tailgate, and unique gloss black 20-inch wheels. The entire lineup now features a redesigned grille inspired by a bamboo forest, an illuminated Infiniti emblem, and restyled daytime running lights, the origins of which can be traced back to the full-size QX80. The rear fascia has also been mildly resculpted, and new wheels are available on every trim, including the base Pure, which now costs $51,200, which is exactly $1,000 up from the pricing announced nearly a year ago for the 2025 model. The shipping and handling fee remains unchanged at $1,350. The QX60 Pure offers 20-inch wheels, newly standard dual 12.3-inch displays with Google built-in, wireless phone charging, and five USB-C ports. Under the hood, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivers 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque, and when properly equipped, Infiniti claims a tow rating of 6,000 pounds for all trims. Adding AWD adds $2,000 to the price. Next up is the Luxe trim, starting $56,800 as standard and $58,800 with AWD, meaning its price is unchanged for 2026. This gets a 3D surround view monitor with Mobile Object Detection, a new feature for 2026. The Luxe also boasts a 16-speaker sound system from Klipsch, climate-controlled front seats, and heating for the second row. The Sport gets AWD as standard and starts at $61,700. When the Sensory trim could still be ordered without AWD, it started at $59,100, so this represents an increase of $2,600. Fortunately, the range-topping Autograph variant - with massaging front seats, a 20-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere sound system, semi-aniline quilted leather, a color head-up display, a two-tone roof, and black open-pore ash wood trim with metal inlays - starts at $66,150, the same as it cost last year. After Infiniti culled its most affordable SUVs last year, the QX50 and QX55, the QX60 is the entry point to ownership, but that may soon change. A report from Automotive News last month indicated that Nissan is preparing a new compact crossover under the internal codename i33C. Unconfirmed reports indicate that this will form the basis of the next Nissan Rogue and that Infiniti will piggyback with something similar. This is expected to be either a mild-hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, and in Infiniti guise, it'll have more upmarket appointments and technology. If these reports are accurate, we expect to see the production version arrive in 2027. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Auto Blog
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
2026 Infiniti QX60 Arrives With A Substantial Price Bump
Infiniti QX60 Base Pricing Rises By $1,000 Infiniti has revealed the refreshed-for-2026 QX60 lineup, which gains a new Sport trim to replace the Sensory model from last year. More than just a name change, the Sport also adds Dark Blue upholstery, a black headliner, dark exterior accents, an S badge on the tailgate, and unique gloss black 20-inch wheels. The entire lineup now features a redesigned grille inspired by a bamboo forest, an illuminated Infiniti emblem, and restyled daytime running lights, the origins of which can be traced back to the full-size QX80. The rear fascia has also been mildly resculpted, and new wheels are available on every trim, including the base Pure, which now costs $51,200, which is exactly $1,000 up from the pricing announced nearly a year ago for the 2025 model. The shipping and handling fee remains unchanged at $1,350. Four Trims To Choose From The QX60 Pure offers 20-inch wheels, newly standard dual 12.3-inch displays with Google built-in, wireless phone charging, and five USB-C ports. Under the hood, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivers 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque, and when properly equipped, Infiniti claims a tow rating of 6,000 pounds for all trims. Adding AWD adds $2,000 to the price. Next up is the Luxe trim, starting $56,800 as standard and $58,800 with AWD, meaning its price is unchanged for 2026. This gets a 3D surround view monitor with Mobile Object Detection, a new feature for 2026. The Luxe also boasts a 16-speaker sound system from Klipsch, climate-controlled front seats, and heating for the second row. Infiniti QX60 Trim MY2025 Pricing MY2026 Pricing Difference Pure $50,200 $51,200 +$1,000 Luxe $56,800 $56,800 – Sport (née Sensory) $59,100 $61,700 +$2,600 Autograph $66,150 $66,150 – The Sport gets AWD as standard and starts at $61,700. When the Sensory trim could still be ordered without AWD, it started at $59,100, so this represents an increase of $2,600. Fortunately, the range-topping Autograph variant – with massaging front seats, a 20-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere sound system, semi-aniline quilted leather, a color head-up display, a two-tone roof, and black open-pore ash wood trim with metal inlays – starts at $66,150, the same as it cost last year. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Infiniti Will Offer Sub-$50k Cars Again After Infiniti culled its most affordable SUVs last year, the QX50 and QX55, the QX60 is the entry point to ownership, but that may soon change. A report from Automotive News last month indicated that Nissan is preparing a new compact crossover under the internal codename i33C. Unconfirmed reports indicate that this will form the basis of the next Nissan Rogue and that Infiniti will piggyback with something similar. This is expected to be either a mild-hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, and in Infiniti guise, it'll have more upmarket appointments and technology. If these reports are accurate, we expect to see the production version arrive in 2027. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
