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Ex-Treasurer Gets 10 Years for Stealing $38M from Arizona County
TUCSON, Ariz. – Former Santa Cruz County Treasurer Elizabeth Gutfahr, 63, of Rio Rico, Arizona, was sentenced on June 23, 2025, by United States District Judge Rosemary C. Márquez to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Gutfahr previously pleaded guilty to Embezzlement by a Public Official, Money Laundering, and Tax Evasion. The defendant was also ordered to pay approximately $51.8 million in restitution to Santa Cruz County and the United States Treasury.
"The people of Santa Cruz County and all Arizonans have a right to expect their elected leaders to serve with integrity and in the best interest of their constituents," said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. "Ms. Gutfahr stole more than money from the people of her county, she betrayed the confidence of the voters who elected her. This sentence shows that abuse of public trust will be punished."
"Ms. Gutfahr will now be held accountable for using her official position for huge financial gain at the expense of the residents of Santa Cruz County," said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. "Each act of greed and dishonor negatively affected fundamental aspects of the county’s operations. The FBI continues to investigate public corruption cases, and we remain committed to identifying and pursuing those who violate the public’s trust."
"Ms. Gutfahr violated her sworn duty by enriching herself with the public money she was entrusted to protect," said Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office. "Taxpayers deserve to know that their elected leaders are working in the community’s best interest — not just their own. IRS-CI remains committed to rooting out corruption at every level."
According to court documents, Gutfahr, who served as Santa Cruz County Treasurer from 2012 through 2024, embezzled and laundered approximately $38.7 million by wiring public funds from Santa Cruz County’s account to accounts in the names of fake companies she had created that performed no legitimate business.
Gutfahr then used the money to purchase real estate, to renovate her family ranch, to pay expenses for her cattle business, and to buy at least 20 vehicles. The defendant’s 10-year scheme involved approximately 187 wire transfers, which she was able to complete by undermining the two-step approval process required for transfers.
Gutfahr used the token of a subordinate Santa Cruz County employee so that she could both initiate and approve the wire transfers. To cover up the scheme, Gutfahr falsified accounting records, cash reconciliation records, and reports of the County’s investment accounts, thereby hiding the millions of dollars that she had stolen from Santa Cruz County.
Gutfahr also failed to report any of the stolen funds as income for tax purposes.
The FBI and IRS-CI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane L. Westby for the District of Arizona and Senior Litigation Counsel Nicholas W. Cannon of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-08132-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-098_Gutfahr
Learn more about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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