A former Maricopa County probation officer has pled guilty to stealing money from people on probation.
Mary Ellen Beck pled guilty to fraudulent schemes and forgery charges on Monday for allegedly stealing money from people between August 2012 and May 2015, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office said.
Beck was indicted nearly a year ago after an investigation unveiled that she had been taking money orders from probationers, authorities said. Instead of paying the Clerk of the Court, she deposited the checks into her personal account.
According to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, Beck is accused of stealing $18,000 from nearly 40 people. She is accused of telling probationers to leave their checks blank and later addressed them to herself.
Her sentencing is slated for November 9. She’s expected to serve up to three years behind bars followed by a probation term. Additionally, she’ll have to give up the state’s contributions to her retirement plan and pay back the victims.
