Overview
- Boulder County prosecutors arrested Cory Hilliard and charged him with one count each of theft, embezzlement of public property and first‑degree official misconduct, the DA announced Monday.
- The DA and the university say a review found Hilliard diverted $9,510.50 from the University of Colorado’s Nike Elite employee product benefit program between 2021 and 2025 while he administered that program.
- CU athletic director Rick George reported concerns to the university’s Department of Internal Audit in July 2025, and the audit’s review of records, transactions and staff interviews led the CU Boulder Police to join the criminal inquiry.
- USA Swimming, which hired Hilliard as CFO in December 2025 after an 18‑year CU career, immediately placed him on leave, cut his access to financial systems and launched its own investigation.
- The case opens possible criminal penalties under Colorado law and is likely to increase scrutiny of USA Swimming’s hiring checks and financial controls as the prosecution and internal probes proceed.