Attorney General Mayes revealed yesterday that two individuals have been hit with indictments for their alleged attempt to defraud the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, as Arizona's AG's office states. Johnny Lee Bowers and Ashley Meredith Hewitt—also known as Ashley Hopkins—stand accused of some serious white-collar crimes: conspiracy, fraud, and forgery. The duo supposedly applied for funds for 50 kids, "43 of whom did not exist".
Seems like these two were quite the enterprising pair, but not in a way any state would endorse. They tried to pass off as parents for these non-existent children, filling applications under not only their own names but also inventing "ghost" parents. The ruse was elaborate, but eventually, the law caught up with them. The scheme allowed them to pocket about $110,000 that was intended to support children's education, yet instead, reportedly funded their cost of living in Colorado. "Hewitt and Bowers now appear to be residing in Utah," the Arizona's AG's office noted.
The charge sheet, issued by a grand jury in Arizona, is now being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Haleigh Farrelly following an investigation by the AG's Special Investigations Section. While Bowers and Hewitt are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the charges are serious, and the alleged trail of forged paperwork is extensive.
For those who want a gander at the legal paperwork, Arizona's AG's office has shared the indictment online.
