Attorney General Mayes Announces Sentencing of Tucson Couple For Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fraud

TUCSON — Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced that a Tucson couple has been sentenced following their guilty pleas to felony charges arising from a scheme to defraud the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) of more than $60,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits.

David Christopher Ellis, 42, was sentenced to six years in the Arizona Department of Corrections. Gabbrielle Elizabeth Ellis, 44, was sentenced to seven years of probation. Both defendants pleaded guilty in Pima County Superior Court to Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, a Class 2 Felony. They are also ordered to pay $62,151 in restitution. 

Between June and August 2020, David and Gabbrielle Ellis submitted false PUA applications to Arizona DES using the identities of other individuals — including incarcerated inmates and other unwitting victims — and collected the resulting benefit payments for themselves. The scheme resulted in more than $60,000 in fraudulent benefits obtained at the expense of Arizona taxpayers and the individuals whose identities were exploited.

"Those who exploit public assistance programs will be held accountable," said Attorney General Mayes. "My office will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to protect Arizona taxpayers and ensure that critical safety net resources reach those who truly need them."

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Tellez-Amado of the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

A copy of the indictment is available here. A copy of Mr. Ellis' plea agreement is here. A copy of Ms. Ellis' plea agreement is here.