by Matthew Holloway | Mar 24, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ08) partnered with the U.S. Secret Service to host a fraud prevention seminar for residents of Arizona’s 8th Congressional District earlier this month.
According to a social media post from the congressman’s office, the event was held in Sun City and focused on educating residents about how to identify and avoid common financial scams.
The event listing described the seminar as an opportunity for residents to learn from U.S. Secret Service experts how to recognize and prevent fraud schemes. A video shared on social media by Hamadeh’s office stated that the seminar aimed to help residents learn about fraud and scam tactics that target consumers.
The presentation focused on common forms of financial fraud, including scams that frequently target older Americans.
Concerns about deed fraud and property scams have been increasing in Arizona, prompting the Arizona Senate to introduce Senate Bills 1479 and 1254 in February to strengthen protections for property owners and close gaps in the state’s deed recording process. SB 1479 was advanced unanimously by the state Senate on March 3.
“Property ownership is the cornerstone of financial security for families, seniors, and small businesses in Arizona,” said the bill’s sponsor, Senate Majority Whip Sen. Frank Carroll (R-LD28).
“When criminals are able to forge documents, record false claims, or quietly transfer property without the rightful owner’s knowledge, it erodes trust in our entire system. These bills deliver a strong message: Arizona will not tolerate deed fraud. We are enhancing identity verification, increasing penalties for offenders, improving notification systems, and ensuring that no property changes hands without proper approval. This initiative aims to protect homeowners, restore confidence in our public records, and ensure that the law firmly supports legitimate property owners.”
Sun City and the surrounding communities in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District have a significant population of retirees and senior residents. Hamadeh’s office said the seminar was part of an effort to provide constituents with resources and information on financial crime prevention.
The U.S. Secret Service is responsible for investigating financial crimes, including fraud, identity theft, and other forms of financial exploitation.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 17, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A Maricopa County judge sentenced a 21-year-old man to prison for his role in a fraud scheme that targeted elderly residents in the Phoenix area, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that Jixiong Zhang was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges related to the scheme.
According to prosecutors, Zhang served as a courier in a coordinated scam targeting elderly victims between October and December 2024. Victims were contacted by individuals who claimed their bank accounts or online purchases had been compromised and were instructed to withdraw large amounts of cash to protect their funds. Couriers were then sent to collect the money.
Authorities said the victims in the cases were 83, 93, 94, and 99 years old. Investigators determined Zhang collected or attempted to collect more than $112,500 from the victims as part of the scheme.
Zhang pleaded guilty to several felony charges across three separate cases, including theft, money laundering, and assisting a criminal organization, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
The court ordered Zhang to pay $79,500 in restitution to the victims. He received 258 days of credit for time served, according to prosecutors.
“Targeting seniors in fraud schemes is particularly cruel,” Mitchell said in a statement announcing the sentencing. “These crimes steal more than money. They take away a sense of security and trust.”
Mitchell’s office stated that upon completion of his sentence, Zhang is “expected to face immigration proceedings.”
Investigators said fraud schemes like the one in Zhang’s case often involve impersonation tactics, in which victims receive calls or messages claiming to be from financial institutions or technology companies and are directed to withdraw funds or transfer money to protect their accounts.
Fraud targeting older adults has been the focus of increased enforcement and legislative attention in Arizona in recent years. Lawmakers have advanced legislation to address financial crimes and property-related fraud schemes targeting vulnerable residents.
Officials with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said they continue to investigate cases involving organized fraud operations and individuals who serve as couriers in financial scams.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 16, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month aimed at strengthening the federal government’s response to cybercrime, fraud, and other online schemes targeting Americans.
The order, titled “Combating Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens,” directs multiple federal agencies to coordinate efforts to disrupt criminal organizations involved in cyber-enabled fraud schemes and online scams.
According to the White House, the policy establishes that the United States will protect Americans and strengthen financial and digital systems against cybercrime while responding to attacks through “law enforcement, diplomacy, and potential offensive actions.”
The order states its purpose as follows:
“Cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes are draining American families of their life savings, stealing the benefits of years of work, and destroying the lives of our youth. These activities — which include deploying ransomware and malware, phishing, financial fraud, ‘sextortion’ and other extortion schemes, impersonation, and more — are often coordinated campaigns carried out by Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) aimed at the most vulnerable among us.”
The order also states that foreign governments are connected to many of these schemes, writing, “In many cases, foreign regimes provide willing or tacit state support to cybercrime and predatory schemes, creating a shadow economy fueled by stolen identities, coercion, forced labor, and human trafficking.”
The executive order directs federal officials to conduct a comprehensive review of the operational, technical, diplomatic, and regulatory tools used to combat transnational criminal organizations engaged in cyber-enabled crimes and fraud schemes. The review is intended to identify ways to prevent, disrupt, investigate, and dismantle scam operations.
Under the order, the Attorney General is directed to prioritize prosecutions of cyber-enabled fraud and scam schemes and pursue serious, provable offenses. The Attorney General is also tasked with submitting recommendations on establishing a Victims Restoration Program to help return seized or forfeited funds to victims of fraud.
The Department of Homeland Security is instructed to work with the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center to provide training, technical assistance, and resilience-building support to state, local, tribal, and territorial partners.
The order also directs the Department of State to engage with foreign governments to encourage enforcement action against transnational criminal organizations operating within their borders. Countries that fail to cooperate could face consequences including sanctions, visa restrictions, limits on foreign assistance, or the expulsion of officials found to be complicit.
The executive order was issued alongside the administration’s broader Cyber Strategy for America, which outlined priorities for deterring cyber adversaries, strengthening critical infrastructure security, modernizing federal networks, and expanding the government’s cybersecurity workforce and capabilities to Congress.
Federal agencies are expected to develop implementation plans and recommendations in the coming months as part of the administration’s effort to disrupt cybercrime networks and strengthen protections for American citizens and businesses.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Ethan Faverino | Jan 29, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4) renewed her demand for transparency and accountability within the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) before the committee’s latest special oversight hearing on Thursday, January 29th.
Following months of intense investigation—including multiple hearings, extensive document requests, and sworn testimony—the committee has uncovered persistent systemic failures at AHCCCS that continue to undermine Arizona’s provider network and block vulnerable patients from accessing essential care.
Providers remain unable to fully participate in the system, with critical services constrained and families in crisis struggling to access timely and appropriate care. “This is no longer just a policy failure. It’s a public health and safety crisis,” stated Senator Werner. “Decisions made inside AHCCCS dismantled parts of our provider network and robbed Arizonans of the care they desperately need. Leadership appearing before the committee has repeatedly failed to provide clear, complete answers regarding enforcement decisions, provider terminations, and the internal actions taken after billions of dollars in Medicaid fraud were uncovered.”
During the current legislative session, Werner has introduced several bills to improve oversight, reinforce accountability, and require AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Health Services to fulfill their obligations to patients, legitimate providers, and Arizona taxpayers.
While expressing cautious optimism regarding the leadership of the newly appointed AHCCCS director, Senator Werner emphasized that personnel changes alone are insufficient to resolve the deep-rooted issues uncovered by the committee’s ongoing investigation.
“The committee remains cautiously optimistic that newly appointed Director Ginny Rountree can begin stabilizing the agency, but the oversight record makes clear that leadership changes alone will not resolve the systemic breakdown exposed through the investigation,” explained Werner. “The Senate Health & Human Services Committee will continue its work until access to care is restored, trust is rebuilt, and meaningful accountability is achieved within Arizona’s Medicaid system.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 21, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Arizona Senate Health & Human Services Committee will hold another oversight hearing on the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) on Thursday, Jan. 29. Committee Chair Sen. Carine Werner (R-LD4) is seeking answers over ongoing access and provider network issues.
Werner said ongoing oversight efforts, including hearings, document requests, and sworn testimony, have revealed continued failures within AHCCCS that are disrupting Arizona’s provider network and limiting patient access to care.
According to Werner, providers remain locked out of the system, services continue to be restricted, and families seeking care are facing delays.
“This is no longer just a policy failure. It’s a public health and safety crisis,” Werner said. “Decisions made inside AHCCCS dismantled parts of our provider network and robbed Arizonans of the care they desperately need.”
Werner explained in the release that AHCCCS leadership, appearing before the committee, has failed to provide clear and complete answers regarding enforcement decisions, provider terminations, and internal actions taken after the discovery of billions of dollars in Medicaid fraud.
The Senator has introduced multiple bills during the current legislative session aimed at strengthening oversight, enforcing accountability, and ensuring AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Health Services fulfill their responsibility to protect patients, providers, and taxpayers.
Werner also referenced the recent appointment of Ginny Rountree as AHCCCS director, saying leadership changes alone may not resolve issues identified during the investigation.
“The committee remains cautiously optimistic that newly appointed Director Ginny Rountree can begin stabilizing the agency, but the oversight record makes clear that leadership changes alone will not resolve the systemic breakdown exposed through the investigation,” Werner said.
Werner said the committee will continue its oversight efforts until access to care is restored and accountability measures are implemented within Arizona’s Medicaid system.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
