PHOENIX – Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced today that Ryan Mariano, former budget accounting specialist with the Wilson Elementary School District, has been indicted for a fraud scheme alleged to have occurred between August 2018 and March 2019. Mr. Mariano was indicted by the State Grand Jury on July 11, 2022.
Mr. Mariano is alleged to have improperly used his position as a budget accounting specialist to appropriate district checks for himself. Specifically, Mr. Mariano is alleged to have deposited unauthorized checks that exceeded $25,000.00 into his personal account.
Mr. Mariano faces charges of:
- Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, a class 2 felony offense;
- Theft over $25,000, a class 2 felony offense;
- Misuse of Public Funds, a class 4 felony offense; and
- Forgery, a class 4 felony offense.
Additionally, a State Grand Jury has indicted April Childs, former budget accounting specialist with the Wilson Elementary School District, for a fraud scheme alleged to have occurred between July 2019 and January 2020. Ms. Childs was indicted by the State Grand Jury on July 11, 2022.
Ms. Childs is alleged to have improperly used her position as a budget accounting specialist to appropriate district checks for herself. Specifically, Ms. Childs is alleged to have stolen these checks during her employment and post-employment, and deposited unauthorized checks that totaled over $4,000.00 into her personal account.
Ms. Childs faces charges of:
- Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, a class 2 felony offense;
- Theft over $4,000, a class 3 felony offense; and
- Forgery, a class 4 felony offense.
This case was investigated by the Office of the Arizona Auditor General.
Assistant Attorney General Kimberly Nye is prosecuting the case.
Mr. Mariano and Ms. Childs are set to be arraigned on August 9, 2022, before Commissioner Richard Hinz.
Copy of Defendant Mariano's indictment can be found here.
Copy of Defendant Childs' indictment can be found here.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.