A former Arizona resident pleaded guilty to theft for continuing to accept thousands of dollars from the state’s school voucher program after moving to Texas.
Amanda Maestas received more than $25,000 from Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program between June 2023 and May 2024 even though she no longer lived in Arizona.
State law requires students to be an Arizona resident to qualify for those dollars.
“Said conduct occurred when AMANDA ELIZABETH MAESTAS failed to inform the ESA program that she and her child moved to the State of Texas making her child ineligible for the ESA funds,” according to an indictment filed in Pima County Superior Court.
Maestas was living in Comal County, Texas, when the attorney general filed the charges, according to local court records.
“Protecting taxpayer dollars is a top priority for my office,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement. “Those who defraud the ESA program and steal from taxpayers will be held accountable.”
Under the plea agreement, which must be approved by the court, Maestas will pay back $28,433.19 in restitution and will be placed under supervised probation.
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