Phoenix officer resigns after being arrested on federal fraud charges for $1.2M loan [View all]

A former Phoenix police officer is facing federal charges on suspicion of taking out a false loan during the pandemic and receiving $1,276,500 in government loans for a business that didn't have employees or a payroll.

According to a federal indictment, investigators found that former officer Toni Richardson and one other person submitted a fabricated application for the Paycheck Protection Program on behalf of a business and used the money intended for real businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic on personal expenses.

Richardson had submitted the false application on behalf of a social club, formally reported as a "charity for veterans" that she was the CEO, director, and president of, according to the indictment.

The Lotto Club was incorporated in May 2015 in Glendale, according to online Arizona Corporation Commission records. Though the club had no employees or payroll, the indictment alleges she knowingly submitted false reports, declaring 85 employees and an average monthly payroll ledger totaling over $500,000 on the application in February 2021.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2021/12/08/phoenix-officer-toni-richardson-facing-federal-fraud-charges-loan/6442053001/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&cid=twitter_azcentral