TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) – Santa Cruz County is planning a major real estate sale to recoup more than $38 million lost from the county treasury.
The county is suing former Treasurer Elizabeth Gutfahr in civil court. It said she transferred more than $38 million from county accounts to her own account during her nearly 10 years as treasurer.
At this time, she has not been charged criminally.
Through civil litigation, a court-appointed receiver was placed in charge of Mr. Gutfahr’s assets. A judge just gave permission for Santa Cruz County to sell 17 properties it says may have been purchased with tainted funds.
Most of the holdings are concentrated in the Rio Rico area, but also include properties in Pinetop and northern Arizona, as well as properties in Mexico.
As Santa Cruz County struggles to recover missing money, Pima County is stepping up its own financial safeguards to keep close tabs on Pima taxpayers’ assets.
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craig smith teeth KGUN9 reporter. With more than 40 years of reporting in cities like Tampa, Houston, and Austin, Craig has covered more than 40 space shuttle launches and historic hurricanes like Katrina, Ivan, Andrew, and Hugo. Share your story ideas and important issues with Craig via email craig.smith@kgun9.com or by connecting facebook and Twitter.
