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/ Modified jun 24, 2025 4:55 p.m.

Former Santa Cruz County treasurer receives 10 years for $38.7 million theft of public funds

Federal judge Tuesday sentenced Gutfahr to a decade in prison and nearly $52 million in restitution by Danyelle Khmara

court gavel ruling hero A scale and gavel

63-year-old Elizabeth Gutfahr pleaded guilty to money laundering, tax evasion and embezzlement by a public official.

A federal judge sentenced her on Tuesday to a decade in prison and about $51.8 million in restitution to Santa Cruz County and the United States Treasury.

During the time Gutfahr worked for the county, from 2012 through 2024, she wired about $38.7 million in public funds from Santa Cruz County’s account to accounts in the names of fake companies she had created, which she spent on real estate, renovations to her family ranch, expenses for her cattle business, and at least 20 vehicles.

Gutfahr did more than 180 wire transfers by undermining the two-step approval process, using the permissions of another employee to initiate and approve the transfers. She then falsified records to hide the millions she stole from the county. She also committed tax evasion as she failed to report any of the stolen funds for tax purposes.

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