Former County Treasurer in Arizona Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Over $38 Million of Taxpayer Money |
New York Times: As the elected treasurer in Santa Cruz County, Ariz., for more than a decade, Elizabeth Gutfahr’s job was to safeguard public funds for one of the state’s smallest counties. But while that money was meant for libraries, fire districts, schools and the like, Ms. Gutfahr siphoned off $38 million to acquire about two dozen vehicles — including Cadillacs and a Mercedes — buy real estate and renovate her family ranch, the Justice Department said this week. Ms. Gutfahr, 62, who held the post from 2013 through early 2024, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Tucson to one felony count each of embezzlement by a public official, money laundering and tax evasion. She could face up to 35 years in prison when she is sentenced in February (New York Times). Washington Post: Santa Cruz County in southern Arizona is looking for ways to recoup the millions that were meant for the public’s benefit, and local officials are also suing the state for allegedly failing for years to properly audit Gutfahr’s books… Court documents detailed how Gutfahr embezzled the funds over the course of approximately 187 wire transfers while she was county treasurer. She made illegal wire transfers from the county’s bank account, which she controlled, to personal accounts under phony identities, court records said. She then covered her tracks by producing false financial reports… Chase Bank alerted the county in April about unusual transactions in the treasurer’s accounts. Gutfahr was suspended the same week and sued by the county less than four months later (Washington Post). |
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He will find new friends in jail, a nice news update, ilona.
How did no one notice earlier?