PHOENIX, AZ – The former director of the Arizona Department of Veterans Services has been indicted for allegedly misusing department funds.
Attorney General Terry Goddard said that Patrick Chorpennning, Sr. was indicted on multiple charges following a two-year investigation into his alleged misuse of over $750,000 of department funds.
Chorpenning, 62, of Peoria, was indicted on Wednesday on charges of procurement fraud, misuse of public money, and several conflict of interest violations.
An investigation found that from 2002 to 2007, Chorpenning allegedly authorized approximately $751,440 in AZDVS money.
According to authorities, several allegations arose in regards to what the money was actually spent on considering several conflicts investigators uncovered.
Both Chorpenning’s wife and son were reportedly employed with the AZDVS and conflicts of interest were raised when Chorpenning’s wife received approximately $114,104 and his son received $215,984 in AZDVS payments.
There was also a large authorization for advertising and media services totaling in $382,757 that Chorpenning apparently made without following a set of rules required to authorize the money, officials say.
"These allegations represent a serious misuse not only of public money but of a critical public trust," Goddard said. "Arizona's veterans have served their community and their country selflessly. We owe it to them to ensure the services and benefits they have earned are never inappropriately diverted."
Chorpenning was director of the department from 1999 until problems at the state veterans nursing home led to his resignation in March 2007.
