PHOENIX - Arizona Assistant Attorney General Scott Blake was awarded Felony Prosecutor of the Year Large Jurisdiction by the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council (APAAC) at the 2017 APAAC Annual Prosecutor Conference. APAAC serves over 800 full-time state, county, and municipal prosecutors.
“Scott is an outstanding prosecutor who works closely with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies and consistently takes on complex and high profile cases relating to terrorism and complex fraud,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “We’ve assembled a remarkable and talented team at the Attorney General’s Office. I’m incredibly proud of the top-notch work our entire Criminal Division performs on a consistent basis.”
Blake was instrumental in the prosecution of Mahin Khan, which was the first successful prosecution under Arizona’s terrorism statutes. Khan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years in prison and lifetime probation. Blake and his team continue to work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Phoenix Field Office to arrest and prosecute those plotting and planning terrorist attacks in Arizona.
Blake obtained a guilty verdict in State v. Zeitner, a lengthy trial involving Zeitner faking cancer to obtain a state-funded pregnancy termination. Blake returned to trial in a fraud case involving Zeitner defrauding two non-profit organizations that assisted veterans. After a guilty verdict in this trial, Zeitner was sentenced to over 20 years in prison.
Blake also obtained a guilty verdict in State v. Nolte, which involved the defendant stealing over $500,000 in 1997 before assuming another person’s identity and fleeing the country. Nolte was sentenced to 9.25 years in prison and lifetime probation.
In September 2016, the FBI’s Phoenix Field office awarded Blake for his professional excellence, outstanding leadership, and success prosecuting complex financial crimes in Arizona.
Blake joins former Division Chief and Assistant Attorney General Donald Conrad as a recipient of this prestigious award. In 2006, Conrad was selected as APAAC Prosecutor of the Year for his leadership and prosecution of the Baptist Foundation of Arizona.