Maricopa County supervisor indicted on 118 counts
From Sunshine Review
3 December 2008
Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley has been indicted on 118 counts having to do with failure to disclose financial interests worth millions of dollars, along with other business dealings. Stapley has been investigated numerous times in the past for his real-estate ventures.[1]
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[edit] Joint Investigation
The investigation was a joint effort between Maricopa County Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Office. They allege Stapley failed to disclose millions of dollars in loans, hundreds of thousands of dollars in deposits from checking accounts to business accounts, along with real-estate deals and other assets.[1]
The transactions specifically cited include a $10 million loan received by companies owned or controlled by Stapley, and land sales involving Conley Wolfswinkel, who was convicted of bank fraud in the early 1990s.[2] It is alleged that both of these were improperly reported on annual financial-disclosure statements mandated by state law.
[edit] Indictment
The indictment was originally issued by a grand jury on November 20, but as Stapley was out of the country, he was not served with it until December 2. The charges include perjury, forgery, false swearing, and filing an incomplete and/or false financial disclosure form. It cites irregularities in Stapley's financial disclosure forms dating back to 1994, the same year he was first elected to the Board of Supervisors.[1] Stapley also serves as President for the National Association of Counties.
Officials stressed that this is only the beginning - a news release from County Attorney Andrew Thomas' office said the indictment is the “culmination of the first phase of an investigation” which began in May.
[edit] Stapley's Reaction
In a statement issued through his attorney, Stapley said, "I have served in public office for 14 years. I'm proud of that service. I have always put the interest of the public first, including full and complete disclosure of any assets. I stand falsely accused of failure to disclose financial information. I have disclosed all the information and income required by law during my time in office. I am shocked and disappointed that such accusations are being made. I cannot fathom where these accusations came from or what motivated them, but if my integrity is being questioned, I assure you that I stand on my record of complete integrity and disclosure and will fight these allegations. This matter should be quickly dismissed."[1]
