Former Wilson Elementary School District Budget Accounting Specialists Accused of Fraud Schemes, Theft, and Forgery

Two former Wilson Elementary School District budget accounting specialists have been indicted for allegedly appropriating district checks into their own bank accounts.

Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Tuesday that Ryan Mariano, former budget accounting specialist with the Wilson Elementary School District, has been indicted for a fraud scheme alleged to have occurred between August 2018 and March 2019.  Mariano was indicted by the State Grand Jury on July 11, 2022.

Mariano is alleged to have improperly used his position as a budget accounting specialist to appropriate district checks for himself. Specifically he is alleged to have deposited unauthorized checks that exceeded $25,000.00 into his personal account.


Ryan Mariano faces charges of:

  • Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, a class 2 felony offense;
  • Theft over $25,000, a class 2 felony offense;
  • Misuse of Public Funds, a class 4 felony offense; and
  • Forgery, a class 4 felony offense.

Additionally, a State Grand Jury has indicted April Childs, former budget accounting specialist with the Wilson Elementary School District, for a fraud scheme alleged to have occurred between July 2019 and January 2020.  Childs was indicted by the State Grand Jury on July 11, 2022.

Childs is alleged to have improperly used her position as a budget accounting specialist to appropriate district checks for herself. Specifically she is alleged to have stolen these checks during her employment and post-employment, and deposited unauthorized checks that totaled over $4,000.00 into her personal account.

Childs faces charges of:

  • Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, a class 2 felony offense;
  • Theft over $4,000, a class 3 felony offense; and
  • Forgery, a class 4 felony offense

Mariano and Childs were arraigned on August 9, 2022, before Commissioner Richard Hinz.