2 sentenced in ESA fraud scheme involving former Arizona education employees

PHOENIX — Two people were sentenced in an empowerment scholarship account (ESA) fraud scheme that involved former Arizona education employees, authorities announced Tuesday.

Jakadah Johnson, 21, and Raymond Johnson Jr., 20, were sentenced to three years of supervised probation and ordered to pay nearly $200,000 in restitution, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Their mother, Dolores Lashay Sweet, was one of three Arizona Department of Education (ADE) employees accused of obtaining funds from the state’s school voucher program for personal use.

What were pair involved in ESA fraud scheme sentenced for?

The defendants pleaded guilty to facilitation to commit money laundering in January.

Jadakah Celeste Johnson and Raymond Lamont Johnson Jr. were used as the vessels for the former education employees to distribute the ESA program money.

The alleged misconduct, totaling more than $600,000, happened between October 2021 and November 2023.

Dorrian Lamarr Jones and Jennifer Lopez were the other two ADE employees charged in the scheme.

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