A grand jury has indicted a Maricopa County Probation Officer probation officer accused of stealing from probationers and the State of Arizona. Mary Ellen Beck, age 43, is charged with theft, money laundering, fraudulent schemes and artifices, fraudulent schemes and practices, and forgery.
According to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s announcement, in April 2015, the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department discovered possible irregularities in Beck’s recordkeeping and following an internal investigation notified the Attorney General’s Office. Beck allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud probationers under her supervision from August 2012 to May 2015. The indictment alleges Beck received money orders intended for payment to the State of Arizona, and instead deposited those monies into her personal bank account. Probationers made those payments to comply with court ordered restitution and fees. Beck allegedly stole more than $19,000 in money orders from 42 victims. The indictment also alleges Beck committed forgery by inserting her name as the payee on money orders intended for the State.
This matter was investigated by Special Agent Paul Cuellar of the Special Investigations Section of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Andy Kvesic.