October 17, 2012

Under an agreement filed in Superior Court today, a former tax collector for the town of Oxford who pleaded guilty to a felony larceny charge in July will have her municipal pension revoked in full, Attorney General George Jepsen said.

Karen Guillet, who was a municipal employee in Oxford from December 1984 until January 2010, has signed a stipulation for judgment agreeing to the revocation of her pension. Upon approval of the court, her entire pension benefits will be revoked. Her projected pension benefit is $1,814.33 monthly – $21,771.96 annually.

“Theft from a municipality or the state is a serious violation of the public trust,” said Attorney General Jepsen. “In 2008, the General Assembly saw fit to give the state attorney general the authority to seek a pension revocation or reduction from a state or municipal official convicted of a crime in connection with their public position. In this case, we have applied that law appropriately, this pension will be revoked and taxpayers will not be responsible for the pension of someone guilty of stealing taxpayer funds.”

In addition to the pension revocation, Guillet has agreed to a court order that pension contributions she paid into the pension fund, without interest, will be applied to any restitution order entered in her pending criminal matter. That amount totals $19,198.66.

Guillet pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree larceny on July 31, 2012. She was arrested in late 2011; according to the state police arrest warrant, she stole money from the town while serving as tax collector to pay for purchases at high-end retail stores, spa treatments and a dog walker, among other things.

Guillet is currently scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29 in her criminal case. Attorney General Jepsen praised State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor for his prosecution of the criminal case.

Under state statute enacted in 2008, the Attorney General is authorized to initiate a civil action seeking reduction or revocation of the pension of any state or municipal official who, in state or federal court, is convicted of or pleads guilty to a crime related to their state or municipal office on or after October 1, 2008.

Any state or municipal official convicted on corruption-related charges – defined specifically in the law as embezzling public funds; committing felony theft from the state; bribery in connection with one’s service as a state or municipal employee; or committing a felony with intent to defraud in order to obtain a profit, gain or advantage for themselves or someone else – could face court action to reduce or revoke their pension.

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