Tucson Woman Ordered to Repay $28K After Misusing Arizona Education Program

Attorney General Kris Mayes (D-AZ) announced last week that her office secured a conviction against a Tucson-area woman accused of improperly collecting state education funds after moving out of Arizona.

Amanda Elizabeth Maestas, 47, pleaded guilty on May 15, in Pima County Superior Court to a Class 6 theft offense stemming from her continued use of Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funds following her relocation to Texas.

The case, handled by the AG's Special Investigation Services unit, was part of a broader effort under Mayes to crack down on fraud within state-administered education programs.

Under the terms of her plea agreement, Maestas was sentenced to supervised probation and ordered to repay $28,433.19 to the ESA Program.

Court documents show that between June 2023 and May 2024, Maestas continued drawing from her ESA account even after she and her child had established residency in Texas.

State Law

Arizona law requires that ESA participants maintain in-state residency, a condition Maestas had formally acknowledged when she enrolled in the program.

Mayes, who took office in January 2023, has made ESA oversight a priority amid the program's rapid expansion over the past few years. Her office indicated the case was built on findings from an internal investigation report completed earlier this year.

"Protecting the integrity of Arizona's education funding is something we take seriously," Mayes said in a press release. "Families who play by the rules deserve to know that those who don't will be held accountable."

The ESA program provides state dollars directly to families to cover private school tuition, tutoring, and other educational expenses.

Abuse of the program has drawn bipartisan scrutiny as enrollment has grown significantly since the state expanded eligibility in 2022.

Maestas has no prior felony convictions, a factor that made her eligible for the plea arrangement. The court will determine whether the offense is ultimately designated a misdemeanor or felony upon completion of her probation.