News Minute: Here is the latest Arizona news from The Associated Press - Tucson News Now

Between the two charged with embezzlement (items #2 and #3), which one will be vilified most by the press?

PHOENIX (AP) - Prosecutors charge that an executive who oversaw procurement for the Arizona Medicaid program may have skimmed more than $10 million through an elaborate scheme over the past nine years. A judge has ordered 63-year-old Michael Veit held on a $1 million cash bond and appointed the public defender to represent him.

Hmm, over $100K a year for 9 years and he's awarded a public defender adding on to the court's costs or:

PHOENIX (AP) - The mayor of the small Phoenix suburb of Guadalupe has been ordered to pay nearly $5,500 in restitution in a food stamp fraud case. The Arizona Department of Economic Security says Rebecca Jimenez received food stamp benefits between July 2011 and February 2013 despite being employed, living with the father of her children and earning a significant salary.

Total of $5500.00, over 19 months. I'm guessing the Guadalupe mayor's salary isn't in the 6 figures range.

I guess if you're going to cheat the system, cheat it BIG.

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

Arizona? I didn't realize that there still were any people there. I thought that they all died from heat or scorpion bites.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Hot? Shucks, it ain't hot here in Tucson. Upon occasion it gets a tad "warmish" (about 9 months out of the year) but it's not really "hot". Besides, as all you East Coasters say, "It's a dry heat"!

Scorpions are no problem here. Heck, we had a governor who declared them a state delicacy.

__________________
“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

Actually that would be about $1 million per year.

Allegedly stole the million/yr, the 100K might be the salary. And yes, amazing that leaves one poor enough to qualify for a PD.

That link apparently updates so fast the articles are gone already.

I'm too lazy to go find them

Sorry about that. I didn't realize it was a "live" feed. Nothing else was in the articles except the bit I posted.

There's some nasty political trails all over the stories.

The $10M story didn't get any coverage or prosecution until AFTER the newly elected AG was scheduled to take office even though it was originally noticed and investigated as early as 2006.

Yes, the $100K I mentioned was the guy's salary (actually $99,767 annual plus per diem and travel expenses).

The second story's investigation just happened to come about AFTER the Guadalupe Mayor criticized Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's "sweeps" for immigrants during a television interview. I guess it would be no surprise to find out the investigation was done by the MCSO, ehh? Makes you wonder WHY the MCSO would be investigating a STATE DES claim, don't it?

__________________
“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now