A former county treasurer has pleaded responsible Thursday to expenses of embezzlement by a public official, cash laundering and tax evasion after stealing greater than $38 million in county funds between 2012 and 2024 to renovate his ranches, purchase no less than 20 vehicles and pay payments private bills for himself and his household.
Elizabeth Gutfahr served because the elected treasurer of Santa Cruz County, Arizona, from 2014 to April 12, 2024. During a few of that point, she transferred funds from Santa Cruz County financial institution accounts to her private Wells Fargo Bank account and to a on the Bank of Montreal, based on court docket paperwork.
“I made a wire switch of Santa Cruz County funds from the County Savings Account and County Checking Account for the aim of and as a necessary a part of finishing up the fraud scheme to fraudulently acquire funds for my private use, all with out authorization,” Gutfahr mentioned, based on court docket paperwork. “I agree that I owe restitution within the quantity of $38,712,100.00.”
Gutfahr additionally used faux enterprise accounts to hide the switch of funds from the Santa Cruz County checking account.
“These account names have been materially false and fraudulent representations to deliberately conceal the truth that I used to be transferring Santa Cruz County funds to my Wells Fargo and BMO accounts to misappropriate county funds,” Gutfahr mentioned, based on his plea settlement .
Gutfahr’s legal professional mentioned in a press release that Gutfahr needs to “take duty for the hurt he has precipitated to Santa Cruz County.”
“She is aware of that by pleading responsible and accepting the punishment that she’s going to face in consequence, she is taking a step in the precise path to be accountable for her actions,” Joshua Hamilton mentioned. “He will work to remain on that path for the remainder of his life.”
Gutfahr’s attraction reveals the Justice Department’s dedication “to rooting out public corruption in any respect ranges of presidency,” mentioned Nicole Argentieri, deputy legal professional common. he said.
“We anticipate public officers to function stewards of the federal government… to not plunder it,” Argentieri he said.
It is Gutfahr, who was launched and needed to hand over her passport scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 6, 2025. He may withstand 35 years in jail, in addition to pay restitution to Santa Cruz County and federal taxes within the quantity of $13,143,526 for tax years 2014 by means of 2023.
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