Ex-employee of southern Arizona county accused of stealing nearly $200,000 in seized funds
A former county government employee is accused of stealing nearly $200,000 of funds seized by law enforcement in southern Arizona.
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A former county government employee is accused of stealing nearly $200,000 of funds seized by law enforcement in southern Arizona, authorities said.
A state grand jury indicted Victor Huerta Jr. on April 27 on five felony charges: two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices and one count each of theft, forgery and money laundering.
He was arraigned on the charges Monday, according to Santa Cruz County officials.
Huerta worked as an asset property specialist for the Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office at the time of the alleged crimes.
He is accused of diverting seized funds that were held by the County Attorney’s Office and Treasurer’s Office between May 2018 and February 2025.
According to the indictment, Huerta allegedly obtained about $90,000 in checks from the treasurer in order to return seized funds to their owners, but he altered the checks and deposited them into his own bank accounts.
He also is accused of signing out over $100,000 in cash from the evidence vault as part of his job duties and depositing it into his own bank account or spending it.
“The indictment also sends a clear and loud message that public employees are not above the law and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office looks forward to justice being served and will continue to cooperate with the Attorney General’s Office,” Santa Cruz County Attorney George Silva said in a statement.
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