Oxford Receives $405K Settlement Against Former Tax Collector

(Editor’s Note: We first published this story last week, but here it is again in case you missed it.)

The Town of Oxford has received a judgment in its favor in an amount of $405,919.75 plus costs, officials said late Wednesday.

The court found that ex-tax collector Karen Guillet engaged in theft and she was therefore charged with treble (triple) damages.

A judgment lien in the amount of $405,919.75 has been filed on town property owned by Guillet, town officials said.

Town Counsel, Attorney Kevin Condon, has been directed to foreclose on the lien and conduct an examination of judgment debtor to determine if other assets are available to satisfy this judgment, officials said in a statement.

According to court documents, Guillet admitted stealing $243,000 from the town of Oxford as part of a guilty plea and was sentenced in November 2012 to serve four years in prison.

Comment of First Selectman George R. Temple, Esq.:

“Due to the manner that this matter was initially handled, much of the evidence needed was destroyed by Ms. Guillet. She was allowed to remain in the Town Hall six weeks after she admitted to the theft of over $3,000.00.

She used that time to attempt to cover her tracks. It is almost a certainty that the theft of town money went on for fifteen years prior to her admission. Like most Oxford residents, I feel a deep sense of betrayal and therefore pledge that we will diligently pursue the collection of the money stolen from us. A judgment can be collected for the next seventeen years. Attorney Condon will do what is necessary to establish a paper trail to find additional assets.”