Co-workers describe Autumn Vasquez Maya, an employee with the Arizona Department of Economic Security, as a “gentle over-achiever who let her gambling addiction get the best of her.” On Wednesday, Maya and her husband, Phoenix Police officer Michael Darrick Maya, were arrested on multiple charges, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS), the Department was provided information by the Department of Economic Security (DES) of potential criminal activity by a DES employee, related to theft of Department monies.
“AZDPS immediately launched an investigation into the allegations and discovered several other criminal activities in which Autumn Vasquez Maya is alleged to have stolen over $3,000 in U.S currency, numerous firearms [primarily handguns] and police body cameras from DES,” according to an email to the ADI from AZDPS. “Maya pawned the stolen items at various pawn shops around the valley.”
“While the investigation is ongoing, at this time, we believe the allegations are isolated to this lone DES employee,” advised Trooper Kameron Lee, AZDPS Public Information Officer.
Autumn Maya worked at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office before transferring to AZDES in August, 2016.
According to sources, the evidence against Michael Maya is “extremely thin.”
On the evening of April 4, 2018, Autumn, age 39, was booked into Maricopa County Jail on the following charges:
• Theft, Control Property of Another
• Theft, Convert for Unauthorized Period
• Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices
• Forgery
• Trafficking Stolen Property (1st Degree)
• Money Laundering (2nd Degree)
• Conspiracy
Michael Darrick Maya, age 45, was also charged as a co-conspirator and booked on the following charges:
• Trafficking Stolen Property (1st Degree)
• Money Laundering (2nd Degree)
• Conspiracy