The wife of a former Benson police sergeant was placed on Arizona’s Adult Protective Services Registry last week following allegations she “illegally or improperly” used more than $270,000 in assets belonging to a vulnerable adult. A criminal investigation is also underway by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the Arizona Daily Independent has learned.
Christina Lynn Graf was found by Adult Protective Services to have exploited former Benson City Councilman Alfonso “Al” Sacco from approx. January 2016 through June 2018 “for the profit or advantage of herself and other persons,” according to public records. Sacco died June 25, 2018 at the age of 89.
In addition, CCSO spokeswoman Carol Capas confirmed Tuesday that Christina Graf and her husband, former Benson Police Sgt. Floyd Graf, are listed as investigative leads in a criminal investigation opened in 2020 related to connection to possible theft of Sacco’s assets. Floyd Graf retired in January 2021 after 20 years of service.
Steve Sacco declined to discuss the criminal investigation involving his father’s finances other than to say he has been in touch with a CCSO detective. He also confirmed receiving notice of the April 20 decision by the Arizona Department of Economic Security to place Christina Graf on the APS Registry.
According to public records, Christine Graf’s exploitation of Al Sacco is alleged to have included debits from his accounts at three banks totaling about $150,000 “for purposes that did not benefit the vulnerable adult.” Another $102,000 was pulled from those three banks via AMT withdrawals, the records show.
There was also about $20,000 in “negotiated transactions” from one of Sacco’s accounts to pay a credit card account “not belonging to the vulnerable adult,” the records show. The alleged financial exploitation ended June 15, 2018, just 10 days before Sacco’s death.
“These transactions, totaling approximately $273,777.57 in the aggregate, were made without the vulnerable adult’s knowledge or informed consent,” according to APS records.
Al Sacco served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War era and later became a successful businessman in California. He moved to Benson in 2000 with his wife, who died in 2009. The couple had been married 54 years.
Records from the city of Benson show Sacco served on the city council from 2007 to 2014, including a stint as vice mayor. After his death, he was buried with his wife in the Riverside National Cemetery in California in accordance with his final wishes, his son noted in an obituary.
An allegation of improper use of a vulnerable adult’s resources does not automatically result in someone’s name being added to the registry. A DES investigator must determine whether there is evidence to substantiate the allegation, which involves a standard of proof based on the preponderance of evidence.
Preponderance of evidence simply requires a showing that it is more likely than not that some maltreatment or exploitation happened. It is a much lower threshold than beyond reasonable doubt used in criminal cases.
According to DES, when a staff recommendation is made to pursue substantiation, state law requires notification to the person under investigation. That person can present information to Adult Protective Services, which must obtain approval from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office before a name is added to the APS Registry.
Names placed on the APS Registry will remain there for 25 years unless the person requests a reconsideration within 30 days of the entry.
CCSO declined to provide a status on its criminal investigation, citing the ongoing nature of the case. Anyone with information relevant to the allegations is asked to contact Det. Mike McGeoghegan at 520-432-9502.