Backpage founder convicted of 1 count of money laundering, jury deadlocks on 84 other counts
Michael Lacey, a founder of the lucrative classified site Backpage.com, was convicted Thursday on a single count of money laundering and acquitted on another. But an Arizona jury deadlocked on 84 other counts against him in a case that alleged he participated in a scheme to sell sex ads, leading the judge to declare a mistrial.
Lawyers argue indicted Backpage employees sought to keep prostitution ads off site
A former executive and two operations managers for classified site Backpage.com worked vigorously to keep the platform free of ads for prostitution even as strategies on how to do so constantly shifted, their attorneys said Tuesday at a federal trial in Phoenix.
6 arrested in alleged scheme to fraudulently collect millions in Covid aid
Six people from Arizona, Washington and Texas have been arrested and accused of fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars of Covid aid from an assistance program meant for renters, federal prosecutors said.
Republican leaders condemn ‘defamatory’ accusations made during elections hearing
Republican legislative leadership expressed heavy criticism toward a freshman lawmaker for inviting a speaker who made unfounded allegations of bribery against several elected and appointed officials.
Texas man pleads guilty to role in $1.6M romance scam plot
A Texas man has pleaded guilty to his role in a romance scam in which women from Arizona and other parts of the country were cheated out of a total of about $1.6 million by someone often pretending to be a U.S. Army general.
FBI says fugitive has been extradited from Mexico to Tucson
A fugitive wanted for his involvement in a criminal drug enterprise has been extradited from Mexico and returned to Tucson, but his wife and another co-conspirator remain at large, according to the FBI.
Ex-US Rep. Rick Renzi wants bail during appeal
Former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi is asking a federal judge in Tucson to allow him to remain free on bail while he appeals his conviction on public corruption, money laundering and other charges.
Ex-US Rep. Rick Renzi appeals corruption verdict
Former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi is appealing his conviction on public corruption, money laundering and other charges.
Ex-AZ congressman Rick Renzi gets 3-year prison term for corruption
A federal judge on Monday sentenced former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi to three years in prison for convictions on public corruption, money laundering and other charges, capping a corruption case prosecutors said began more than a decade ago.
Arizona “dark money’’ groups face combined $1 million in fines
California’s Fair Political Practices Commission has reached a settlement with two so-called “dark money” groups in Arizona that will see them pay a combined $1 million in fines.
Horne: ‘No excuse’ for Air Guard members accused of expense fraud
Twenty-one Tucson-based Arizona Air National Guard members have been indicted for fraud after using fake addresses to collect federal stipends meant for those who are traveling or on short-term orders, Attorney General Tom Horne said on Monday.
Probation report: Renzi should get 33 months
Former Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi should be sent to federal prison for nearly three years for convictions on public corruption, money laundering and other charges, according to recommendations from the U.S. Probation Office.