Former Phoenix Union High School District Employee Indicted

PHOENIX - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a State Grand Jury indicted Julie Kendall, former controller of the Phoenix Union High School District, on charges related to theft and tax fraud.

Kendall is accused of tampering with payroll information for herself and another employee to receive an extra $19,716 in fraudulent federal and state tax refunds. From December 2012 to January 2016, Kendall allegedly reduced the amount of taxable income on their W-2 forms to receive a larger tax refund. Kendall’s scheme was uncovered when the falsified retirement contributions exceed the federal retirement contribution limit causing the District to issue checks totaling $8,400 for the excess amount.

Kendall is facing 12 felony counts including Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, Computer Tampering, Violation of Duties of a Custodian of Public Monies, and Aiding in Preparing False Tax Documents.

The Arizona Auditor General investigated this case.

Assistant Attorney General Mary Harriss is prosecuting this case.

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

Full copy of the indictment.