Former Arizona Representative Don Kenney, who went to prison for taking over $50,000 in bribes” in the 1990’s AZscam scandal, was charged this week for identity theft; the identity of his own son. He had been working as a real estate broker in California.
Kenney was the first Arizona legislator to take a bribe in the AZscam scam. Kenny, the chairman of the Arizona House Judiciary Committee became known as the “the quarterback” of the operation. Kenney spent 14 months in prison for his AZscam involvement.
Kenney is charged with perjury, using another person’s personal identity information, filing a false instrument, and forgery.
Kenney told police that he knew he would be unable to obtain a real estate license due to AZscam felony conviction. Kenney was cooperative with police telling them, “I am 74 years old with prostate cancer; I just want to get this over with.”
The AZscam sting lasted seventeen months, and 0ver $300,000 in bribe money was paid to numerous Arizona legislators. Prosecutors caught the crimes on tape and the footage made national nightly news.
Legislators caught in the sting included:
- Senator Chuy Higuera
- Senator Alan Stephens
- Representative Don Kenney
- Representative Sue Labey
- Senator Carolyn Walker
- Representative Jim Meredith
- Representative Jim Hartdegen
- Representative Art Hamilton
- Representative Bill English
- Representative Bobby Raymond