A state grand jury has indicted two out-of-state residents on multiple felony charges, including conspiracy, fraud, and forgery, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today.
Johnny Lee Bowers and Ashley Meredith Hewitt, also known as Ashley Hopkins, are accused of defrauding Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program by submitting forged documents such as birth certificates, utility bills, and lease agreements.
From December 2022 to May 2024, the defendants allegedly filed applications for 50 children, 43 of whom did not exist. They posed as both real parents and fictitious “ghost” parents in order to secure funds from the program. Investigators claim they received approximately $110,000 from the ESA, which they used for personal expenses in Colorado while continuing to reside there.
The ESA program is designed to provide funding for education-related expenses for Arizona students. However, Bowers and Hewitt are accused of fabricating information to qualify for funds intended for eligible children, diverting taxpayer money for their personal gain.
The charges against the pair include conspiracy, fraudulent schemes, and 58 counts of forgery. Authorities believe the defendants have since relocated to Utah.
This indictment demonstrates Arizona’s commitment to protecting public funds and holding individuals accountable for fraudulent activities. Bowers and Hewitt are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
