Attorney General Mayes Announces Conviction in Empowerment Scholarship Account Fraud Case

TUCSON – Attorney General Mayes today announced the conviction of Amanda Elizabeth Maestas for theft of Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funds.

Maestas was convicted in Pima County Superior Court (Case No. CR2025-3702-001) of Theft, a Class 6 offense after entering a guilty plea on May 15, 2026. She has been ordered to pay $28,433.19 in restitution to the ESA Program and will serve a term of supervised probation.

According to her indictment, between June 23, 2023 and May 7, 2024, Maestas continued collecting ESA funds after she and her child relocated to Texas, rendering her child ineligible for the program. Arizona residency is a formal condition of ESA participation, which Maestas had explicitly acknowledged when enrolling in the program.

"Protecting tax payer dollars is a top priority for my office," said Attorney General Mayes. "Those who defraud the ESA program and steal from taxpayers will be held accountable."

Maestas is set for sentencing on June 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM in Pima County Superior Court. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Haleigh Wright.