Pinal County Sheriff's Office - Theft of Public Monies

Our investigation revealed that from January 2002 to September 2003, Sylvia Martinez, a former inmate service detention officer allegedly embezzled at least $11,884 from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office by embezzling inmate funds and issuing an unauthorized check for $2,500 to her sister.  Additionally, Ms. Martinez misused county funds by delaying deposits totaling $42,840 of inmate money to help her conceal her theft of $11,884. We submitted our findings to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and on December 14, 2005, the Maricopa County Superior Court issued an indictment on two counts of theft, and one count each of fraudulent schemes, misuse of public money, and tampering against Ms. Martinez.  Ms. Martinez’s sister was indicted on one count of theft.