In a surprising turn of events, two people from out of state have been accused of scamming Arizona’s private school voucher program, making off with more than $110,000. According to authorities, the pair claimed to be parents of 50 children, but here’s the kicker—43 of those kids didn’t even exist.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Monday that an indictment has been filed against Johnny Lee Bowers and Ashley Meredith Hewitt, who also goes by Ashley Hopkins. They’re facing a whopping 60 felony charges, including conspiracy, fraud, and forgery.
Here’s how it all went down: Between December 2022 and May 2024, Bowers and Hewitt allegedly submitted fake applications to the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account program. They used both real and made-up names for kids and even created fake parent identities. To pull this off, they forged documents like birth certificates, utility bills, and lease agreements.
Some of the fictional kids had quirky names, such as Louis Dobbs, Tucker Gil, and Poppy Fox. Officials say the duo spent the money on personal living expenses while residing in Colorado. Now, it seems they’ve moved to Utah.
The Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account program has been a hot topic for years. It lets parents use taxpayer money meant for public schools to cover private school tuition or other educational expenses. Back in 2022, then-Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, expanded the program to include all Arizona families, which thrilled school choice advocates. However, critics like current Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, have slammed the program, saying it’s too costly and prone to abuse. Hobbs even pointed out that some families have used the funds for luxury items like ski passes and pianos.
The grand jury in Maricopa County issued the indictment on November 12. As of now, the accused haven’t responded to requests for comment.
This case has sparked fresh debate about how to safeguard taxpayer money and ensure it’s being used as intended. It’s also a reminder of the importance of keeping a close eye on programs like these to prevent fraud and misuse. Stay tuned for updates on this story as it unfolds.
