Former Arizona Charter School Director Faces 22 Felony Charges in Alleged Fraud Scheme
A former executive director of a publicly funded charter school in Tucson, Arizona, has been charged with 22 felony counts following an investigation by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on Sept. 8 that Jason Riegert, former executive director of Academy Del Sol, was indicted in Pima County Superior Court.
The indictment was returned by a state grand jury on July 27, 2026, and includes charges of conspiracy, illegally conducting an enterprise, theft, misappropriation of charter school funds, computer tampering, fraudulent schemes and artifices, and forgery.
Charges Stem From Years at Academy Del Sol
According to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the alleged conduct occurred during Riegert’s tenure as executive director of Academy Del Sol.
The first report states that the alleged activity took place between January 2018 and December 2024, when Riegert was serving in the leadership role.
Academy Del Sol is a publicly funded charter school in Tucson, meaning the allegations involve the handling of funds tied to a public education institution.
The Attorney General’s Office has not detailed the specific dollar amount allegedly involved or the exact transactions underlying each of the 22 counts.
Charges Include Theft, Fraud and Computer Tampering
The indictment includes a broad range of felony allegations.
Among them are charges of theft and misappropriation of charter school funds, which directly relate to the alleged misuse of money associated with the school. Riegert also faces charges of fraudulent schemes and artifices, a category used in Arizona criminal cases involving alleged deception for financial or other gain. Additional counts include computer tampering, forgery, conspiracy, and illegally conducting an enterprise.
Taken together, the charges suggest prosecutors are alleging coordinated conduct involving financial transactions, records, and systems over an extended period.
Case Moves to Pima County Superior Court
The matter is now proceeding in Pima County Superior Court, where the defendants will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
Because the case is at the indictment stage, the charges have not been proven.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office emphasized that the allegations remain just that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
That distinction is important in reporting the case, particularly because the indictment outlines the state’s allegations rather than final factual findings.
