Attorney General George Jepsen announced Wednesday that former Oxford Tax Collector Karen Guillet’s pension has been “revoked in full.”
According to a press release issued by Jepsen’s office Wednesday about 11:30 a.m., Guillet has signed a “stipulation for judgment” agreeing to the revocation of her pension — which would have paid her $1,814.33 monthly, or $21,776 per year.
Guillet is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 29 in Superior Court in Milford after pleading guilty in July to first-degree larceny, a felony, for stealing money from Oxford taxpayers.
The document Guillet signed is embedded at the end of this story.
“Theft from a municipality or the state is a serious violation of the public trust,” Jepsen said in the press release. “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 revocation, Jepsen said 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 faces a maximum prison sentence of 12 years in prison in connection to the theft, which will be suspended after she serves five years.
Her attorney, Dominick Thomas of Derby, is expected to argue for a lesser sentence.
Thomas said Wednesday the order “is part and parcel of our restitution” in the criminal case.
“I’ve been in negotiations and discussions with (the attorney general’s office) for some time,” he said. “Our intent is to produce, as we expressed, as much, if not all of the restitution.”
Asked if he thought Judge Richard Arnold, who will be sentencing Guillet in the criminal case Oct. 29, would look kindly on Guillet’s forfeiting of her pension, he declined to comment.
He also wouldn’t say whether he’d be asking Judge Arnold to give Guillet a completely suspended prison sentence and probation.
“I’ll be making arguments at the time, that’s all I can say,” Thomas said.
Under a 2008 state law, Jepsen said he 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, Jepsen’s press release said.
The Town of Oxford also has a civil lawsuit pending against Guillet and her husband recently filed for divorce.
Guillet was the Oxford tax collector from December 1984 until January 2010, according to Jepsen’s lawsuit.
A state police arrest warrant said Guillet stole money — roughly $243,000 — from taxpayers to live a lavish lifestyle of shopping sprees, beauty treatments and casino trips.
