Arizona Mexican Mafia leader convicted in fraud case, confesses to cold case murders

PHOENIX — The supposed leader of the Arizona Mexican Mafia was recently convicted in a fraud case and confessed to his involvement in cold case murders from the 1990s, officials said.

Paul Eppinger previously pleaded guilty to the charges related to his gang’s involvement in pandemic unemployment fraud and admitted to his role in five cold case homicides, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

“I’m proud of the attorneys and investigators in my office who helped bring these cold cases to justice,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said in the announcement.

“Financial fraud investigators prove pivotal yet again in our efforts to dismantle organized crime in Arizona, preventing the Mexican drug cartels from operating within our border and holding this violent gang leader accountable under the law.”

What exactly did the Arizona Mexican Mafia leader admit to?

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office indicted Eppinger for his role in fraudulently acquiring unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prosecutors said the investigation revealed that Eppinger wasn’t the only one and that multiple inmates and associates had submitted false claims causing financial loss to the state and federal government.

According to the attorney general’s office, during the fraud investigation Eppinger also confessed to his involvement in five gang-related murders across Arizona that were still open cases. These admissions provided breakthroughs that allowed the cases to be closed.

Eppinger is already serving a life sentence in the Federal Bureau of Prisons but received an additional 25 years for each of the homicides.

Related

Man who fatally stabbed girlfriend in Phoenix before fleeing to Mexico sentenced to 18.5 yearsOregon man sentenced to 3.25 years in prison for stalking former US government official in ArizonaPolice release identity of man killed by officers in Phoenix this weekConstruction begins on $20.1M medical office condominium development in Queen CreekDeveloper announces completion of Nexus Commerce Center industrial park in Tempe2 found dead after fire at home in Maricopa