Attorney General Tom Horne announced criminal indictments of 21 members of the Arizona Air National Guard during a press conference Monday morning, The Associated Press reported.
Horne said military personnel are accused of falsifying military records and using fake home addresses, in order to receive money meant for those traveling outside of their home regions, according to AP.
Between November 2007 and September 2010, the majority of defendants fraudulently too more than $100,000 by claiming to live outside of Tucson, said a press release from Horne's office.
The official charges for the Tucson-based case come after an 18-month investigation by state and federal agencies.
The investigation was a joint effort by the attorney general's office, the FBI, the U.S. Air Force, the Arizona National Guard and the Air National Guard, the press release said.
"I am committed to the investigation and prosecution of individuals who fraudulently collect taxpayer money, and will use the full resources of my office to prosecute to the fullest extent," Horne said in a statement. "Some of these men and women received benefits in excess of four and five times their salaries in temporary duty entitlements."
Horne's office announced a news conference was scheduled Monday in Phoenix at 10 a.m. earlier that morning.
Spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham declined in advance of the news conference to provide details on the defendants' military affiliations or the nature of the alleged crimes.
Grisham said authorities began serving those charged in the case with summonses last week.
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