{"id":2319547,"date":"2024-08-05T16:01:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T20:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-treasurer-spent-39-million-in-county-funds-to-support-extravagant-lifestyle-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-05T16:04:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T20:04:32","slug":"arizona-treasurer-spent-39-million-in-county-funds-to-support-extravagant-lifestyle-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-treasurer-spent-39-million-in-county-funds-to-support-extravagant-lifestyle-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona treasurer spent $39 million in county funds to support \u2018extravagant lifestyle\u2019 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Farizona-treasurer-spent-39-million-in-county-funds-to-support-extravagant-lifestyle-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2319547&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A \u2064former county treasurer in Arizona, Elizabeth Gutfahr, is \u200cfacing a lawsuit from Santa Cruz County for allegedly embezzling over $39 million to support her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reality-tv-can-serve-a-purpose-but-last-week-it-failed\/\" title=\"Reality TV Can Serve A Purpose, But Last Week, It Failed\">extravagant lifestyle<\/a>. \u200bThe investigation was \u2063prompted by \u2062suspicious transactions totaling $375,000 \u2064each, reported by JPMorganChase, which led to scrutiny from various agencies, \u2064including the Federal Bureau of Justice and the Department of \u2064Justice. The county has expressed its commitment to\u2063 maintaining operations despite the significant \u200cfinancial impact, and it was\u200d revealed that \u2062$4.125 million was\u2064 hastily \u200bwithdrawn during Gutfahr\u2019s last\u200b months \u2063in office,\u200b with the total amount\u2063 embezzled \u2063being nearly\u200d ten times that. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-endorses-herschel-walker-in-georgia-senate-race\/\" title=\"Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Endorses Herschel Walker in Georgia Senate Race\">financial mismanagement<\/a> has\u2062 severely affected local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/calif-gov-newsom-announces-2b-plan-to-reopen-schools-by-spring\/\" title=\"Calif. Gov. Newsom announces B plan to reopen schools by spring\">school districts<\/a>, leading to budget\u200b deficits. Community members have \u200bexpressed outrage, with one comment highlighting the moral accountability of Gutfahr.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Arizona treasurer spent $39 million in county funds to support &lsquo;extravagant lifestyle&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1722153\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A former county treasurer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/arizona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Arizona<\/a> is being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lawsuit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>sued<\/a> by Santa Cruz County for spending $39 million of county money to fund her &ldquo;extravagant lifestyle,&rdquo; the county said.<\/p>\n<p>Elizabeth Gutfahr is being sued for allegedly embezzling at least $39,412,000 over a 10-year period. After the county was made aware of 11 transactions for $375,000 each, which were reported by JPMorganChase, investigations from multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Justice, Department of Justice, and Santa Cruz County, were launched.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Though this is a significant amount of money for our community, we will do everything in our power to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-prosecutor-withheld-hunter-biden-probe-details-until-after-presidential-election\/\" title=\"Report: Prosecutor withheld Hunter Biden probe details until after presidential election\">avoid impact<\/a> to the day-to-day operations of the entities that rely on funding from the County, and we will continue to provide straightforward updates as things progress,&rdquo; the county said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.santacruzcountyaz.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/20675\/Santa-Cruz-County-Files-Civil-Lawsuit-against-Former-County-Treasurer-Elizabeth-Gutfahr-?bidId=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, the county confirmed that $4.125 million was withdrawn from county funds during Gutfahr&rsquo;s final months in office. The true figure ended up being almost ten times more than that. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kjzz.org\/kjzz-news\/2024-08-01\/39-million-is-missing-from-santa-cruz-county-nearly-10-times-what-was-originally-reported\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>KJZZ Phoenix<\/a>, three-quarters of the stolen money came from school districts in the county, as school districts in the area are now facing a deficit.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">&ldquo;She should be ashamed of herself, and second, she said she should be in jail or prison if she&rsquo;s not right now,&rdquo; Roberto Esparza, a county resident, told&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kvoa.com\/news\/santa-cruz-co-lawsuit-former-treasurer-used-39m-of-county-funds-to-fund-extravagant-lifestyle\/article_baf36aa4-5155-11ef-8b2b-a7bd3fd7aacb.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News 4 Tucson<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Now, the county has filed a civil lawsuit against Gutfahr in the Pima County Superior Court.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As a first action, Santa Cruz County has yesterday filed a civil lawsuit in the Pima County Superior Court against former Treasurer, Elizabeth Gutfahr, alleging that she embezzled at least $39,412,000, and it is our goal to recover as much of the stolen funds as possible,&rdquo; the county said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.santacruzcountyaz.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/20675\/Santa-Cruz-County-Files-Civil-Lawsuit-against-Former-County-Treasurer-Elizabeth-Gutfahr-?bidId=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In addition, the county is continuing its comprehensive internal review with the assistance of experienced outside legal and forensic accounting professionals, including a full forensic financial investigation of the accounts controlled by the county treasurer,&rdquo; the statement continued.<\/p>\n<p>The county said it is fully cooperating with separate investigations from the DOJ and FBI. According to federal court documents, criminal charges have not yet been filed against Gutfahr.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1722153\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1722153\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arizona&#8217;s former county treasurer, Elizabeth Gutfahr, is facing a lawsuit from Santa Cruz County for allegedly misappropriating $39 million in county funds to support her lavish lifestyle. The lawsuit claims that she embezzled at least $39,412,000 over a decade. The investigation was prompted by JPMorganChase reporting 11 transactions of $375,000 each. Multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Justice and the Department of Justice, are involved in the inquiry. The county stated that while this amount significantly impacts the community, they will strive to maintain normal operations for entities dependent on county funding and will provide updates as developments occur. Recently confirmed withdrawals during Gutfahr&#8217;s last months in office totaled $4.125 million; however, the actual amount taken was nearly ten times greater. Reports indicate that three-quarters of the embezzled funds originated from local school districts now facing budget deficits. A resident expressed outrage over Gutfahr\u2019s actions and suggested she deserves imprisonment for her misconduct. In response to these allegations, Santa Cruz County has filed a civil lawsuit against Gutfahr in Pima County Superior Court with aims to recover as much stolen money as possible while conducting an extensive internal review with external legal and forensic accounting experts. Currently, no criminal charges have been filed against her according to federal court documents<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2319548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/santa-cruz-county-1-1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4472,37253,37254,6434],"class_list":["post-2319547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-arizona","tag-county-funds","tag-extravagant-lifestyle","tag-treasurer"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/santa-cruz-county-1-1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2319547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319547\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2319548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2319547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2319547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2319547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}