AG Investigations

Attorney General Investigations

Brnovich Prosecuted A Woman Who Was Accused Of faking Cancer to Afford An Abortion

May 2015: Brnovich Filed Charges Against A Woman Who Allegedly Faked Cancer To Afford A Late-Term Abortion. According to a press release from Attorney General Brnovich, “Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced today that his office recently filed a complaint with the Maricopa County Superior Court against Chalice Renee Zeitner for allegedly faking a cancer diagnosis in order to get the state to pay for her late-term abortion. This joint investigation was handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Arizona Attorney General, and the Office of the Inspector General within Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).” [Attorney General Brnovich, Press Release, 5/12/15]

• Brnovich Claimed Zeitner Falsified Paperwork To Remove Tumors From Her Abdomen Because The State Only Covered Abortions Under Limited Circumstances. According to The Augusta Chronicle, “The charges stem from a 2010 scheme Zeitner is alleged to have perpetrated in order to obtain an abortion. According to a statement from Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich's office, Zeitner falsified paperwork in March 2010 that she was suffering from stage IV sarcoma and was scheduled for immediate treatment to remove tumors from her abdomen and lower spinal area. The state's Medicaid provider covers abortions only ‘under limited circumstance including if the life of the mother is endangered,’ according to the statement.” [Augusta Chronicle, 5/20/15]
• Brnovich Announced New Felony Charge Against Zeitner For Allegedly Scamming Veteran Charities. According to a press release from Attorney General Brnovich, “Attorney General Mark Brnovich today announced new felony charges against Chalice Renee Zeitner, an Arizona woman previously accused of faking cancer to obtain a state paid late-term abortion. Zeitner is now facing 8-felony charges for allegedly scamming veterans charities out of thousands of dollars. A grand jury indicted Zeitner on August 17, 2015.” [Attorney General Brnovich, Press Release, 8/24/15]
• Zeitner Was Sentenced To More Than 25 Years In Prison. According to a press release from Attorney General Horne, “Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced today a judge sentenced Chalice Zeitner to more than 25 years in prison after Zeitner faked cancer to qualify for a taxpayer funded abortion and scammed veterans charities out of more than $15,000. Zeitner was convicted of 17 felonies at two separate trials. The Attorney General's Office prosecuted this case after an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Phoenix Field Office and AHCCCS.” [Attorney General Horne, Press Release, 9/8/16]

Brnovich Launched An INvestigation TO See If Public Education Money Was Used To Pay For An Abortion

June 2015: Arizona Authorities Launched A Criminal Investigation Into Allegations Public Education Money Was Used To Pay For An Abortion. According to the Arizona Republic, “State authorities have launched a criminal investigation into allegations public education money was used to pay for an abortion. The Arizona Attorney General's Office confirmed the nature of the investigation to The Arizona Republic but would not release additional details. A spokesman said Attorney General Mark Brnovich was notified of the case following the newspaper's inquiries. The case was sent to the attorney general last year by the Department of Education, which suspected money from the state's Empowerment Scholarship Account was used to fund a procedure. Under state law, public funds cannot be used for abortions unless it is necessary to save the life of the woman having the procedure. A separate state statute limits what ESA money can be used for, excluding health-care services.” [Arizona Republic, 6/17/15]

• Education Officials Referred The Case To The Attorney General’s Office After They Determined The Types Of Services Offered By The Clinic Where The Money Was Spent Did Not Include Educational Therapies That Would Meet State Requirements. According to the Arizona Republic, “The taxpayer-funded ESA program is on track to disperse about $36 million this school year to qualifying families, who are given debit cards to spend the money on education. ESA funds can be spent on limited educational therapies, private-school tuition, homeschooling curriculum, online classes, community-college tuition and other items. State education officials began their investigation shortly after a program participant's purchase in August 2014. A code generated by the charge caused officials to take ‘a second look,’ said Aiden Fleming, deputy director for policy development and government relations with the Education Department. Michael Bradley, chief of staff to state schools Superintendent Diane Douglas, said education officials referred the case to the Attorney General's Office after they determined the types of services offered by the clinic where the money was spent did not include educational therapies that would meet state requirements.” [Arizona Republic, 6/17/15]