The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office says two people have been indicted for conspiring to steal more than $828,000.00 from the Silver Creek Irrigation District. In January of 2017, the Silver Creek Irrigation District Board of Directors reported to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office that their long-time Treasurer and Bookkeeper Leon Palmer had been stealing money from the District for over 4-years. Working with the Arizona Auditor General’s Office and reviewing tens of thousands of documents, the Sheriff’s Office determined that Leon Palmer had taken over $800,000.00 and given it to Peggy and Russell Rogers. Palmer did this by writing over 540 Irrigation District checks to cash since August of 2011. Before the investigation was completed Palmer died at the age of 78. Russell Rogers was indicted on 6 felony counts including Conspiracy, Theft, Assisting a Criminal Syndicate and Money Laundering. Peggy Rogers was charged with the same plus additional Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices as well as Forgery charges for a total of 14 felony counts.
