Arrest Warrant Issued for AZ Couple Accused of Construction Fraud Scheme

PHOENIX - Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and the Arizona Registrar of Contractors announced a judge issued an arrest warrant for an El Mirage couple accused of stealing more than $15,000 from owners of a Surprise home in a construction fraud scheme. The State Grand Jury indicted Rafaela Juarez and Hugo Juarez-Zaragoza for Conspiracy, Illegally Conducting an Enterprise, Fraudulent Schemes & Artifices, and Theft.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has been unable to locate Rafaela Juarez and Hugo Juarez-Zaragoza to serve them with the indictment. The charges against the Juarez-Zaragozas are the result of an AZ ROC investigation.  According to the indictment, the Juarez-Zaragozas agreed to complete various home improvement projects at a residence between January 2016 to March 2016. It is alleged the Juarez-Zaragozas accepted approximately $15,000 in payments, failed to complete the work, and then abandoned the jobs.

Authorities have reason to believe the Juarez-Zaragozas' unlicensed construction activities are ongoing. The Juarez-Zaragozas also use the aliases “Lisa Zaragoza,” “Ana Zaragoza,” and “Hugo Zaragoza.” Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts should immediately contact the Attorney General’s Office at (602) 542-8888 or your local law enforcement agency.

Assistant Attorney General Andy Kvesic is prosecuting this case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.

Full copy of the Indictment.

Full copy of the Arrest Warrant.