No party mentioned and why? She is a Corrupt Democrat from Arizona! Good friends with the Fraud of a Governor?
A former Arizona county treasurer admitted to embezzling more than $38 million in taxpayer funds over a 10-year period.
Former Santa Cruz County Treasurer Elizabeth Gutfahr pleaded guilty this week to charges of embezzlement by a public official, money laundering, and tax evasion from her time as treasurer. After the county was made aware of 11 transactions for $375,000 each from a report from JPMorgan Chase, investigations from the FBI, Department of Justice, IRS, and Santa Cruz County were launched.
“Today’s guilty plea is a reminder that those entrusted with public funds are not above the law,” Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division said in a statement.
“Gutfahr deliberately calculated a scheme to embezzle taxpayer dollars and then launder those funds for her own personal use. This breach of trust not only robs taxpayers but undermines the integrity of public office. The FBI remains unwavering in its pursuit to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for selfish purposes,” Yarbrough continued.
According to the Justice Department, during her 10 years in office, she transferred funds from Santa Cruz County bank accounts to her personal Wells Fargo bank account and a Bank of Montreal account.
Gutfahr has been accused of using more than $38 million of taxpayer funds that she embezzled between 2014 and 2024 to fund her “extravagant lifestyle.” According to federal processors, that lifestyle included at least 20 personal vehicles, including Jeeps, Ford trucks, a Mercedes-Benz, and Cadillacs, plumbing, new floors for a luxurious 150-acre ranch, and a cattle company.
“I wire transferred the Santa Cruz County funds from the County’s Savings Account and Checking Account for the purpose and as an essential part of carrying out the scheme to defraud to fraudulently obtain the funds for my personal use, all without authorization,” Gutfahr admitted, according to court documents. “I agree I owe restitution in the amount of $38,712,100.00.”
In addition to falsifying business records, Gutfahr used fake business accounts to help conceal the illegal funds transfers.
Around three-quarters of the stolen money came from school districts in the county, and school districts in the area are now facing a deficit.
“I knew when I was stealing the funds from Santa Cruz County’s Savings Account that the funds in this account were used to pay expenses for schools and fire districts,” she said in her plea statement.
Her attorney, Joshua Hamilton, said Gutfahr plans “to take responsibility for the harm she has caused to Santa Cruz County.”
“She knows that by pleading guilty and accepting the punishment she will face as a result, she is taking a step in the right direction to be accountable for her actions. She will work to remain on that path for the rest of her life.”
Gutfahr’s sentencing date is Feb. 6. She faces up to 35 years in prison.
Santa Cruz County has additionally sued the state of Arizona over its alleged lack of oversight.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3240845/arizona-treasurer-pleads-guilty-embezzling-38m-taxpayer-funds/
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