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“Government can only be accountable if taxpayers can see what they are buying and how much they are paying for it.”

State Treasurer Cary Kennedy commenting on the Colorado Department of Treasury website that tracks how Colorado tax dollars are spent, as quoted on TheDenverChannel.com 03/07/2010.

58-year sentence for stealing $11 million from Colorado

By The Denver Post,
September 25, 2009

A man convicted of stealing more than $11 million from the Colorado Department of Revenue with help from a former girlfriend was sentenced to 58 years in prison Thursday in Denver District Court.

Hysear Randell, 42, also was ordered to pay $11,862,398.39 in restitution.

Co-defendant Michelle Cawthra was sentenced earlier to 24 years in prison; Randell's wife, Trudy, is currently on probation.

Earlier this year, a jury convicted Randell on 52 of 54 criminal counts, including violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, theft by receiving, forgery and conspiracy to commit theft.

Cawthra, 32, was a supervisor at the Department of Revenue, and she testified that she took the money at Randell's urging.

The money was stolen through various methods, including creating false businesses and tax returns.

Cawthra pleaded guilty and was sentenced in February. She must repay $10.8 million to the state. Trudy Randell pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft by receiving.

For the full story, please visit http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_13415670

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