Colorado Residents Admit to Misusing Arizona School Voucher Funds
In a significant development concerning Arizona’s school voucher system, two individuals from Colorado have confessed to orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that siphoned more than $100,000 in unauthorized reimbursements. The admissions were made in Maricopa County Superior Court, shedding light on vulnerabilities within the state’s educational funding program.
Attorney General Kris Mayes revealed that Johnny Bowers admitted his guilt to two felony charges on Tuesday. His partner in the scheme, Ashley Hewitt, had already pleaded guilty to one felony earlier in the month. The fraudulent activities involved the use of counterfeit birth certificates and falsified documents to manipulate the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. This led to the illicit procurement of $110,258.28 for 50 children, 43 of whom were nonexistent. For more details, visit this link.
“Fraud in the ESA program will not be tolerated,” stated Attorney General Mayes. “Those who exploit government systems for personal gain will be held accountable. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute fraud and protect taxpayer dollars.”
The sentencing for both Bowers and Hewitt is slated for October 24.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne praised the Department of Education for its role in referring the fraudulent activities to the Attorney General’s office. He emphasized his dedication to safeguarding taxpayer money and eradicating fraudulent practices.
Horne also criticized Governor Katie Hobbs for opposing a budget proposal aimed at expanding the department’s staff, which would have increased their ability to scrutinize the approximately 1,000 daily voucher transactions. The proposal, which sought $2 million for additional personnel, was included in a budget that did not pass, primarily due to resistance from Hobbs and several state Senate Republicans.
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