Latest news with #Sperry
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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Boise man in DUI crash was nearly 3 times over legal limit. Here's his sentence
A Boise man whose alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit will go to prison after he seriously injured another driver while speeding down Cloverdale Road last November. Fourth Judicial District Senior Judge Michael Reardon sentenced Shane Sperry to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to felony aggravated driving under the influence, according to a Wednesday news release from the Ada County Prosecutor's Office. Reardon retained jurisdiction over the 21-year-old's criminal case and placed him on an alternative sentencing option known as a rider. That means he'll spend roughly the next year in prison before having a hearing to review his progress in front of Reardon. If Sperry does well on his rider, he could be released on probation, but if he doesn't, he could go to prison for at least another year, and up to 10 more. Sperry was driving an estimated 95 mph on Cloverdale Road — in a 45-mph zone — in the early hours of Nov. 24 when he collided with a Ford Bronco driven by a woman who was turning onto Cloverdale from her subdivision, the prosecutor's office said. She sustained a nasal bone fracture and lacerations to her face. The crash was investigated by the Ada County Sheriff's Office, which found through a breath test that Sperry's alcohol content was .226, the release said. The legal limit is .08. 'We are grateful the victim survived this devastating crash,' Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts said in the release. 'This case is a reminder of the dangers of impaired and reckless driving, and I want to thank the Ada County Sheriff's Office and our prosecution team for their work in holding Mr. Sperry accountable.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Authentic brings Sperry back to UK and Ireland
This story was originally published on Fashion Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Fashion Dive newsletter. Authentic Brands Group signed a new deal with Gardiner Bros to reintroduce the Sperry brand to the U.K. and Ireland, according to a Tuesday release. Under the agreement, Gardiner Bros will serve as the official distributor of Sperry footwear for men and women. This is Sperry's first licensee in the U.K. and Ireland since Authentic's acquisition of the brand in 2024, according to a spokesperson. Also Tuesday, Authentic announced the appointment of former Amazon exec Tim Derner as global head of its marketplaces division. Dener was most recently director of Amazon Fashion and Luxury Stores. Sperry's previous parent company, Wolverine World Wide, distributed the brand in the U.K. and Ireland through a deal with Fabulous Footwear. The Sperry brand has longstanding market appeal in the region, and the deal with Gardiner Bros brings Sperry back to a market where it holds 'strong awareness and affinity,' Authentic said in the release. In addition, Ben Gardiner, chief product officer at Gardiner Bros, said boat shoes 'are having a real resurgence.' The move builds on Authentic's continuing global expansion. In May, the company announced that it would bring its Rockport brand to the U.K. and Ireland through a men's and women's footwear distribution deal with Chapters Brand Group. The company also extended its Boardriders Japan license in June and announced a South Africa partnership for its Ted Baker brand in December. Last year, Authentic hired its first general manager for Africa. The company also brought in its first Australia-based employee to be the new head of Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Derner, who started his role on June 2, is expected to help push Authentic's global distribution strategy, particularly in terms of 'strengthening partnerships, accelerating brand reach and driving incremental value across platforms,' per the release. While at Amazon, he worked with Authentic to 'significantly expand the online presence and retail sales' of brands including Reebok, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer and Aéropostale in Amazon stores. In his new role, Derner will report to newly appointed president Matt Maddox. 'Marketplaces are a critical engine for long-term brand growth,' said Maddox. 'Tim's track record of building high-performing teams and scaling digital marketplaces worldwide makes him the ideal leader to deepen our capabilities in this space. His appointment marks a significant step in making this channel a cornerstone of our global distribution strategy.' Derner's former employer Amazon was one of the investors, alongside Authentic, in the January acquisition of the Neiman Marcus Group by Saks Global, parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue. Authentic also launched a joint venture with Saks Global in October 2024 called Authentic Luxury Group, which was created to explore licensing opportunities and drive growth for Saks Global as well as Authentic-owned brands including Barneys New York, Judith Leiber, Hervé Léger and Vince. Recommended Reading Rebag joins forces with Luxury Stores at Amazon Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
