Crime-fighting Money is Used to Pay Law Firms by Attorney's Office
Crime-fighting money is used to pay Law Firms by Attorney's Office
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office under Andrew Thomas dipped into a pot of money earmarked for fighting racketeering crimes to pay for private civil attorney’s office and the Sheriff's Office. This money comes from cash and assets seized in criminal investigations. Thomas' office spent more than $127,000 in racketeering funds to pay four outside law firms that represented the County Attorney's and Sheriff's offices in civil court matters between November 2008 and March 2010. Law-enforcement officials said it remains unclear how those civil matters would be construed to be helping fight crime.