TUCSON, Ariz. — An elected official from an Arizona county is facing significant legal consequences after admitting to embezzling over $38 million in public funds. Elizabeth Gutfahr, who served as the treasurer for Santa Cruz County from 2012 until 2024, utilized these embezzled funds for various personal expenditures, including renovations on her upscale Southwestern ranch home, sustaining her family’s cattle business, and purchasing at least 20 vehicles, which notably included an Airstream camper van.

On Thursday, Gutfahr entered a guilty plea to a single felony count each of embezzlement by a public official, money laundering, and tax evasion, due to her failure to pay an estimated $13 million in taxes. This plea deal enabled her to circumvent a trial, as she acknowledged her wrongdoing.

In a statement, her attorney Joshua Hamilton conveyed, “Liz Gutfahr wants to take responsibility for the harm she has caused to Santa Cruz County. She understands that by pleading guilty and accepting the impending punishment, she is making a significant step towards being accountable for her actions.”

At 62 years of age, Gutfahr faces a potential prison sentence of up to 35 years when she appears in court for sentencing on February 6 at the federal courthouse in Tucson. Additionally, she is required to pay restitution to Santa Cruz County, which is located along the border with Mexico.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Arizona reported that Gutfahr misappropriated public funds by transferring them into fraudulent business accounts before using wire transfers to funnel the money into her personal bank accounts.

Court documents reveal that she attempted to conceal her activities by falsifying accounting records along with other documents. Gutfahr is currently free while awaiting her sentencing, but she cannot leave the state without prior court authorization.