Boulder County Woman Sentenced To Federal Prison For Stealing More Than $429,000 From Federal Government

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado:

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced today that Kathleen McCalib, age 52, of Boulder, was sentenced to serve 8 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years on supervised release for theft of government funds.  McCalib was also ordered to pay $429,000 in restitution to her victims.  She appeared at the sentencing hearing free on bond, and was ordered to report to a facility designated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.  The Offices of the Inspector General for both the Social Security Administration and the Office of Personnel Management joined in today’s announcement.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, McCalib’s father died in late 2006. At the time he died, he was receiving both Social Security retirement benefits and a civil service retirement pension from his time as a federal employee.  The federal government was not informed of his death, so these payments continued to be deposited each month into a joint account that McCalib held with her father. For about the next twelve years, McCalib continued to spend these funds, frequently forged her deceased father’s signature on checks, including large checks to herself that she wrote, and then endorsed on the back with her own signature. She occasionally paid a home mortgage from the account.  By the time law enforcement caught up with her, McCalib had taken and spent $429,454.46 in federal government money to which she was not entitled.

“Ms. McCalib stole from taxpayers by cashing electronic checks issued to her deceased father,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “Now she will have the opportunity to repay that theft with not only her money, but with her time in a federal prison.”  

“The theft of Government funds is a Federal crime that directly impacts the American taxpayer,” said Norbert E. Vint, Deputy Inspector General, performing the duties of the Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management.  “This sentencing is an important step toward restoring the financial integrity of the retirement program and the trust fund.”

“For over a dozen years, Ms. McCalib failed to report her father’s death, and instead took over $74,000 in Social Security benefits knowing that it was not her money and intending to put it to her own use.  The Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will continue to work closely with SSA and other agencies to identify those who misuse benefits after someone dies,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General of Social Security.  “I want to thank the Office of Personnel Management OIG for its efforts in investigating this case, and the United States Attorney’s Office’s for bringing this individual to justice.”

McCalib was charged by Information on December 19, 2019.  Her guilty plea was entered on January 14, 2020.  She was sentenced by 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.  The sentencing was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan D. Fields.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.  Related court documents can be found on PACER by searching for Case Number 19-cr-532.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced today that Kathleen McCalib, age 52, of Boulder, was sentenced to serve 8 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years on supervised release for theft of government funds.  McCalib was also ordered to pay $429,000 in restitution to her victims.  She appeared at the sentencing hearing free on bond, and was ordered to report to a facility designated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.  The Offices of the Inspector General for both the Social Security Administration and the Office of Personnel Management joined in today’s announcement.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, McCalib’s father died in late 2006. At the time he died, he was receiving both Social Security retirement benefits and a civil service retirement pension from his time as a federal employee.  The federal government was not informed of his death, so these payments continued to be deposited each month into a joint account that McCalib held with her father. For about the next twelve years, McCalib continued to spend these funds, frequently forged her deceased father’s signature on checks, including large checks to herself that she wrote, and then endorsed on the back with her own signature. She occasionally paid a home mortgage from the account.  By the time law enforcement caught up with her, McCalib had taken and spent $429,454.46 in federal government money to which she was not entitled.

“Ms. McCalib stole from taxpayers by cashing electronic checks issued to her deceased father,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “Now she will have the opportunity to repay that theft with not only her money, but with her time in a federal prison.”  

“The theft of Government funds is a Federal crime that directly impacts the American taxpayer,” said Norbert E. Vint, Deputy Inspector General, performing the duties of the Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management.  “This sentencing is an important step toward restoring the financial integrity of the retirement program and the trust fund.”

“For over a dozen years, Ms. McCalib failed to report her father’s death, and instead took over $74,000 in Social Security benefits knowing that it was not her money and intending to put it to her own use.  The Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will continue to work closely with SSA and other agencies to identify those who misuse benefits after someone dies,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General of Social Security.  “I want to thank the Office of Personnel Management OIG for its efforts in investigating this case, and the United States Attorney’s Office’s for bringing this individual to justice.”

McCalib was charged by Information on December 19, 2019.  Her guilty plea was entered on January 14, 2020.  She was sentenced by 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.  The sentencing was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan D. Fields.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.  Related court documents can be found on PACER by searching for Case Number 19-cr-532.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years