In a shocking series of events, both the former treasurer of Santa Cruz County Elizabeth Gutfahr and an Arizona county treasurer have pleaded guilty to embezzling substantial amounts of public funds. Gutfahr admitted to stealing nearly $40 million over a decade, while her Arizona counterpart confessed to embezzling over $38 million for personal use, including luxury renovations and vehicle purchases. This embezzlement scheme has prompted investigations and legal actions against the individuals involved, as local counties seek to hold accountable those responsible and implement stronger safeguards to prevent such incidents in the future. The fallout continues as counties take legal action regarding the audits linked to these embezzlements.