Arizona Mexican Mafia Leader Convicted in Pandemic Unemployment Fraud and Confesses to Involvement in Cold Case Homicides

PINAL COUNTY – The Arizona Attorney General's Office today announced that Paul Eppinger, the supposed leader of the Arizona Mexican Mafia, has been convicted on charges related to the notorious gang’s involvement in receiving the proceeds of pandemic unemployment fraud. In addition to his guilty plea in the fraud case, Eppinger has confessed to his involvement in five cold case homicides that occurred throughout Arizona in the 1990s.

"I'm proud of the attorneys and investigators in my office who helped bring these cold cases to justice." said Attorney General Mayes. "Financial fraud investigations prove pivotal yet again in our efforts to dismantle organized crime in Arizona, preventing the Mexican drug cartels from operating within our borders, and holding this violent gang leader accountable under the law." 

Eppinger was indicted by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for his role a large-scale scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploiting federal relief programs intended to support Arizonans in need. The investigation revealed that numerous Arizona inmates and associates submitted false claims, resulting in significant financial losses to the state and federal government.

During the course of the fraud investigation, Eppinger provided detailed confessions of his own involvement in five gang-related murders from the 1990s, which had long remained open cases. These homicides spanned multiple locations across Arizona and were believed to be connected to organized criminal activity. Eppinger's admissions have provided crucial breakthroughs, allowing law enforcement to close these cases and bring a measure of justice to the victims' families after decades.

Eppinger, who is serving a life sentence in the Federal Bureau of prisons, received 25-year sentences on each of the homicide cases. The Arizona Attorney General's Office collaborated with several agencies and local law enforcement partners throughout the investigation, including the Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation & Reentry, the Phoenix Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Street Gang Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons National Gang Unit.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Amy Diederich. The Arizona Attorney General's Office is committed to protecting the people of Arizona by prosecuting crime, defending the state, and safeguarding consumers. For more information, visit www.azag.gov

Eppinger pled guilty in the Pinal County case on August 14, 2025 (attached here) . Eppinger pled guilty in Maricopa County on April 11, 2025 (attached here) and May 12, 2025 (attached here). A copy of his photo is available here.