Tucson, Arizona

Santa Cruz County has announced its decision to sue a former treasurer who is accused of embezzling over $39 million. The lawsuit was filed against Elizabeth Guffer, who allegedly misappropriated $39,412,000. The county is seeking to recover as much of the funds as possible, as highlighted in their press release.

“This significant amount affects our community, but we are dedicated to minimizing any disruption to the daily operations of entities that depend on county funding,” officials stated.

Guffer resigned in April after the county identified 11 suspicious transactions totaling $375,000. Back in June, they promptly secured all accounts under her management and notified the relevant authorities.

Ongoing investigations by the FBI, the Department of Justice, and local government entities are currently still in progress.

“The county is conducting a thorough internal review with the help of legal experts and forensic accountants to carry out a complete financial investigation of the accounts managed by the treasurer,” the Santa Cruz announcement noted.

In a June press release, county supervisors discussed enhancing financial policies and accountability with private companies to safeguard county funds. Santa Cruz emphasized that these adjustments were necessary to protect their financial future and identify any potential fraudulent activities.

Innis Villa, a local resident, expressed her sadness about the situation, saying, “She knew that money was meant to help us, the residents. It feels unfair and unfortunate.”

Roberto Esparza, another community member, voiced his belief that Guffer should face prison time. “We paid her salary, and she betrayed the trust people place in politicians around here. It seems like they often take too many liberties,” he remarked.