Arizona Inmate’s Early Release Through Forgery Sparks Investigation
In an unexpected twist, Arizona state officials find themselves grappling with how an inmate, David Cramer, managed to walk free from prison two decades before his scheduled release, thanks to forged court documents. Despite the silence from authorities regarding the specifics, insights from public records and social media activity from Cramer’s family reveal a tale of deception that bypassed both court and prison safeguards.
State prison Director Ryan Thornell briefed lawmakers recently, explaining that Cramer was released in June, although his official release date was set for 2047. This error, as Thornell’s agency acknowledged, was attributed to “fraudulent court documentation uploaded to the Court docket and received by the Department.” Law enforcement rectified this by re-arresting Cramer on August 20, a full two months after his premature release.
Charges and Conviction
Cramer’s run-ins with the law stretch back to July 2012, when Glendale police officers apprehended him over weapons and drug charges. During the arrest, Cramer was accused of using his children as shields, an allegation also made by Peoria police in a separate incident. Cramer’s criminal history includes escaping custody twice in the 1990s, although details remain sparse.
By 2014, Cramer faced convictions on multiple charges from the 2012 incident, including felony kidnapping and resisting arrest. Initially sentenced to 30 years in prison, one of the charges, unlawful imprisonment, was later overturned on appeal.
Forgery Leads to Release
The sequence of events leading to Cramer’s release began with three forged documents entering the Maricopa County Superior Court docket in April and May, suggesting a judge had dismissed his charges. These documents falsely claimed that Presiding Judge Joseph Welty ordered his release. Cramer’s daughter, Hazel McQueen, took to TikTok to celebrate the fraudulent release, stating, “WE DID IT!!!! MY DAD IS FREE!!!” in a now-deleted post.
Judge Sunita Cairo later declared the documents fraudulent, stating, “None of these documents were ever issued by this court.” Despite their falsehood, the documents bore Clerk’s Office stamps and entered Cramer’s case docket, bearing discrepancies in formatting and unauthorized signatures.
Unraveling the Fraud
Authorities were quick to react once they discovered the fraudulent filings. Governor Katie Hobbs and Thornell confirmed the swift re-arrest of Cramer but withheld details on how the forgery was initially detected. A confidential source informed KJZZ about similar fraudulent documents in an unrelated case, pointing authorities to the forgery in Cramer’s situation.
This source’s inquiry with the Maricopa County Clerk’s Office confirmed the absence of a legitimate release order. The fraudulent documentation was labeled as a “Pro Per Motion/Notice/Mail (Release Order),” filed without legal representation.
Authorities, including the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, are actively investigating the incident, while Cramer’s daughters maintain his innocence, alleging a conspiracy against him.
Connections to Previous Forgeries
Evidence suggests McQueen may have engaged in similar fraudulent activities before. Documents filed by McQueen in a civil case involving Walgreens falsely claimed a $24 million award to Cramer, backed by signatures of non-existent court officials. Black Canyon Enterprises PLLC, associated with these forgeries, is linked to Cramer’s family, with McQueen boasting about her legal prowess online despite lacking an attorney license.
The Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court and multiple law enforcement agencies continue to probe the fraudulent activities, which have raised significant concerns about the integrity of court document handling.
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