Christine Speros, described by a judge and prosecutor as a consummate con artist, has been sentenced to 36 years in prison.
To some, she was known as Christine Chandler, a successful California interior designer who was relocating to Denver. To others, she was a Malibu real estate agent who had just moved to Denver after being awarded an $8 million divorce settlement.
In reality, she was a felon who had just served a prison term for forgery.
But her bright personality, her ability to talk like an interior designer and her claims of personal wealth enabled her to scam thousands of dollars from banks, business associates and newfound friends in a matter of months, Denver District Judge Shelley Gilman and prosecutor Melanie Names said Friday.
“It is clear you are a very bright individual with an engaging personality,” Gilman told her Friday.
Speros had four previous felony convictions and was found guilty on 17 counts in the latest case. Names said that the woman has repeatedly stolen from people and businesses without any sign of remorse.
Over the years, the prosecutor claimed, Speros had defrauded banks, laundered money for drug dealers and used lies about an inheritance and a divorce settlement to deceive people.
“She is a consummate liar,” Names said. “She lied to her victims about her identity and background.”
