Embezzlement Set to Cruz Control
Following her sudden resignation, the longtime treasurer of a small Arizona county faces questions about her time in office.
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- (00:00) - An Unexpected Resignation
- (01:07) - Welcome to Oh My Fraud
- (03:23) - Listener Mail and Fraud Discussion
- (08:23) - Santa Cruz County Background
- (09:50) - Liz Gut Far's Career and Sudden Resignation
- (10:50) - Investigation and Initial Findings
- (16:34) - Massive Embezzlement Uncovered
- (17:17) - Legal Actions and Allegations
- (24:58) - Fraud Techniques and Cover-Up
- (29:55) - Criminal Charges and Court Proceedings
- (40:12) - Lessons Learned and Conclusion
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Sources:
- Santa Cruz County’s Industry Clusters [SantaCruzCenter.org]
- County Treasurer Elizabeth Gutfahr resigns [Nogales International]
- Unrecorded money transfers trigger FBI investigation on former Santa Cruz Co. treasurer [News4Tucson]
- County Tells School, Fire Districts That Over $4 Million Has Disappeared [Patagonia Regional Times]
- County BOS, SEFD, Sonoita School District Release Statements on Missing Funds [Patagonia Regional Times]
- Supervisors Told $39.4 Million in County Funds Is Missing [Patagonia Regional Times]
- Report sheds light on Santa Cruz Co. Treasurer's alleged theft of $39 million [KGUN]
- A Santa Cruz County official is accused of stealing $39M. A lawmaker wants tighter controls [Arizona Republic]
- Santa Cruz County v. Elizabeth Gutfahr, et al.
- U.S. v. Elizabeth Gutfahr
- Former Arizona Elected Official Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement of More than $38M of County Funds [DOJ]
- Former Santa Cruz County Treasurer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Stealing Over $38 Million in County Funds [DOJ]
- “One of the dumbest…crimes in Arizona state history” [KGUN]
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Creators and Guests

Host
Caleb Newquist
Writer l Content at @GustoHQ | Co-host @ohmyfraud | Founding editor @going_concern | Former @CCDedu prof | @JeffSymphony board member | Trying to pay attention.
