Fraudster caught: Woman who collected ESA funds from Arizona after moving to Texas convicted

A woman who illegally collected Arizona school voucher funds after moving to Texas has pleaded guilty to theft, authorities announced Thursday.

Amanda Elizabeth Maestas pleaded guilty on May 15 in Pima County Superior Court, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Maestas collected more than $28,000 from the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program between June 2023 and May 2024 despite no longer living in Arizona, prosecutors said.

Woman convicted of ESA fraud must pay back the state

Maestas had explicitly acknowledged that living in Arizona is a formal condition of collecting ESA funds.

Now she must pay $28,433 in restitution to the state and serve supervised probation.

Her sentencing is scheduled for June 26.

Future of school voucher funds could be shaped by upcoming election

This case highlights a major flashpoint in the ongoing debate over ESA fraud, which has become a key issue in the race for the state’s next schools chief.

During the primary election campaign for Arizona superintendent of public instruction, candidates from both parties clashed over how to handle the Arizona’s school voucher system going forward.

Democratic candidates argued the voucher system is “out of control” and needs more oversight, while Republican candidates want to protect the program from being dismantled.

The primary election is set for July 21, although early voting begins June 24.

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