Jeff Lee, a former public health official in both Navajo and Coconino counties has been indicted on 16 felony counts related to theft, misuse of public monies, and fraudulent schemes.
According to the Arizona Auditor General’s Office, investigators found that “from July 2013 through April 2017, Lee allegedly used his Coconino County purchasing card to make 237 personal purchases totaling $82,550, recording false transaction descriptions in Coconino County’s accounting software to help conceal his actions.”
The Auditor General alleges that Lee “continued this unlawful practice at Navajo County where he was hired as Public Health Services health director in April 2017. Navajo County officials determined that from August 2017 through March 2020, Lee used his Navajo County purchasing card to make 135 purchases totaling $9,148 that lacked supporting and/or public purpose documentation and requested and received reimbursement from him.
“Of those 135 Navajo County purchases,” the Auditor General’s Office determined that “Lee allegedly recorded
false information in Navajo County’s accounting software for 6 personal purchases totaling $1,762, helping to conceal
his actions.”
In February 2020 the Auditor General’s Office reported the investigation’s findings to Navajo County officials, who then reviewed 3 fiscal years of Lee’s purchasing card transactions and requested and ultimately received $9,148 from Lee for his purchases that lacked supporting and/or public purpose documentation.
Upon learning of the indictment, the County placed Mr. Lee on Administrative Leave pending further investigation.
“We want to assure our residents and community partners that the Navajo County Health Department will continue to provide high quality and much needed services without interruption,” stated County Manager Glenn Kephart. “Our focus is on protecting public health, and we have a highly capable and experienced team who will continue our strong network of community partnerships.”
The Auditor General’s Office submitted their findings to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, which on December 15, 2020, presented evidence to the State Grand Jury resulting in the indictments.