A former Colorado Department of Revenue employee was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Friday and ordered to pay $10.8 million in restitution to the state.
Michelle Cawthra, 32, who was a supervisor in the Taxpayer Services Division, apologized during the sentencing hearing held in Denver District Court and said she took responsibility for her actions.
Cawthra’s attorney asked Judge Sheila Rappaport to consider a community corrections sentence so she could work to pay back a portion of the money she stole, but the judge said she could not find any reason to be lenient and sent Cawthra to state prison.
Revenue director Roxy Huber appeared at the hearing and asked the judge to send a strong message in sentencing Cawthra.
“We are public servants that must be held to a higher standard,” Huber said.
Grand-jury indictments say Cawthra funneled the money to her boyfriend, Hysear Randell, from August 2005 through 2007 to buy cars, jewelry, travel, real estate and to pay living expenses.
There were more than 50 transfers to various companies and entities in Randell’s name ranging from $454 to $450,000.
Randell, 41, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in July.
Randell’s wife, Trudy, 38, has pleaded guilty to theft and receiving more than $15,000. She will be sentenced Aug. 7.
