According to Attorney General Kris Mayes, at a press conference on Thursday, five individuals have been charged by a grand jury for purportedly scamming Arizona’s education voucher system.
Thursday, Arizona’s Attorney General, Kris Mayes, made an announcement that five individuals have been charged by a grand jury for allegedly scamming Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account program through fraudulent means.
According to Mayes, Dolores Lashay Sweet, Dorrian Lamarr Jones, Jennifer Lopez, Jadakah Celeste Johnson, and Raymond Lamont Johnson Jr. have been charged with several felonies, including fraud, conspiracy, computer tampering, illegal operation of a business, money laundering, and forgery.
In the press conference, Mayes reported that Sweet, Jones, and Lopez were all previously employed by the Arizona Department of Education and alleges their grown-up children attempted to use the ESA program for their own financial advantage by acquiring funds and assets.
The scheme involved the use of false birth certificates and fabricated evidence to falsely claim a student’s eligibility for special education. Out of the 17 children involved, it was discovered that seven of them were completely fictitious. Mayes summarized the situation by stating that “ghost students” were created.
This is the second instance in which Mayes’ office has pursued fraud allegations in connection to the ESA program. In 2023, Mayes’ office indicted three women who were charged with a total of 25 criminal offenses for deceiving the state, including the ESA program. These charges are related to incidents that occurred prior to the program’s expansion by the Legislature to include all school children in Arizona.
This matter is currently being handled by the Maricopa County Superior Court.
The Empowerment Scholarship Account program, also known as the state’s universal voucher program, has been the subject of criticism by Mayes and other Arizona elected officials.
The program’s expansion has been gradual. This week, the current ESA enrollment is 75,576 individuals. It has been reported that on average, the scholarship amount received is $9,782.
