Fraudsters indicted for scamming over $110,000 from Arizona school voucher program

In Arizona, a grand jury indicted two nonresidents, Johnny Lee Bowers and Ashley Meredith Hewitt, for allegedly engaging in fraud related to the state's private school voucher program between December 2022 and May 2024. They are accused of submitting applications to the Empowerment Scholarship Account program for over 50 children, with 43 of those children being entirely fictitious. The fraudulent scheme involved using False documents, including birth certificates and utility bills, to support their claims. These fraudulent activities prompted scrutiny from the Arizona Department of Education, which brought the issue to the attention of Attorney General Kris Mayes. The duo reportedly managed to receive approximately $110,258.28 in taxpayer funding, which they allegedly misused for personal living expenses in Colorado. The indictment consists of serious charges including conspiracy, fraud, and 58 counts of forgery each. The school voucher program, launched in 2011 and expanded in 2022, has been a topic of political debate in Arizona. Supporters argue that it supports educational choice, while critics, including Governor Katie Hobbs, have claimed it diverts funds away from public schools and facilitates misuse of taxpayer money. This particular case highlights the challenges of ensuring accountability and integrity within the expanded program, as similar incidents have raised alarms about its oversight and effectiveness. The indictment reflects growing concerns regarding potential fraud in Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program as its costs have surged. The indictment was officially handed down on November 12, sparking discussions around the credibility of the program and calls for reforms to prevent such infractions in the future. The legal proceedings against Bowers and Hewitt underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in education funding mechanisms.