Kathleen McCalib, Theft of Government Funds, Colorado 2020

Boulder resident Kathleen McCalib, 52, has been caught and will face the consequences of her actions after pleading guilty to theft of government funds.

McCalib's crime began in 2006 after her father's death. Despite being aware of his passing, she continued to spend his Social Security retirement benefits and a civil service retirement pension, which were still being deposited into a joint account they shared.

For over a decade, McCalib forged her father's signature on checks, including large sums to herself, and even used the funds to pay her home mortgage. By the time authorities caught up with her, she had stolen a staggering $429,454.46 from the federal government.

“Accepting Social Security public retirement benefits intended for a person who has died is just like any other theft and will be treated accordingly,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. “In this case, it’s even worse because the victim is all of us – the taxpayers who fund these programs.”

McCalib was charged on December 19, 2019, and her sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2020. The guilty plea was entered on January 14, 2020, before U.S. District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore.

This case was jointly investigated by the Inspector General offices of both the Office of Personnel Management and the Social Security Administration in Denver, Colorado.

In a joint statement, the Inspector General offices expressed their gratitude for the hard work of their investigators, analysts, and partners in bringing McCalib to justice. They emphasized the importance of protecting taxpayer funds and the trust in the retirement program.

Kathleen McCalib, Defendant/Respondent: Kathleen McCalib

Criminal Charges: Theft of government funds

City and State: Boulder, Colorado

Exact Date: January 14, 2020

Sentence or Outcome: Guilty plea

Dollar Amounts: $429,454.46

Defendant's Bond: Continued at the conclusion of the hearing

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/pr/boulder-county-woman-pleads-guilty-after-stealing-more-429000-federal-government