Denver (AP) A supervisor in the state's tax-collection agency in under arrest, accused of approving at least $5.3 million in phony refunds and other tax payments.
Prosecutors say 30-year-old Michelle Cawthra made the payments to her boyfriend and an associate of his. She and the associate were arrested Saturday but the boyfriend, 40-year-old Hysear Don Randell, remains at large.
Big refunds require three employee approvals. Records show the ones in question were approved by Cawthra and two of her former subordinates who no longer worked there at the time.
The alleged scheme was discovered Friday and arrest warrants were issued that day. Investigators expect to uncover more losses.
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