Prosecutors charged a man and woman last week who allegedly stayed at the Little America Hotel under an account paid for by the state.
A man who claimed to be with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver called the hotel's accounting department on Sept. 7 and requested direct billing to the office for the stay of a man and a woman, charges filed in 3rd District Court state.
A hotel employee told him an account already existed for the Administrative Office of the Courts, which is part of state government. She asked the man if she should use that. The man checked with his "people" and later said that would be fine, charges state.
The man and woman checked in the next day. They charged to the account food and gift shop items. The account balance exceeded $300. A front desk manager thought it was unusual because the courts account is generally used for sleeping accommodations only, charges state.
Security confronted the man and woman in their room. They said they were in the witness protection program. They said they were helping two people from the U.S. Attorney's Office. But the names given were not employees. People with the state said no such persons were authorized to use the account, charges state.
The man and woman both were charged with three counts of forgery, a third-degree felony, and one count of theft by deception, a class A misdemeanor.