PHOENIX- A woman who recruited teens to help sell fake coupon books, claiming they benefitted a charity, was sentenced to six concurrent prison terms. Christina Pacheco (DOB 05-13-1974) was charged with participating in a criminal syndicate, fraudulent schemes, identify theft, and forgery. The highest charge, a class 2 felony, led to a 15.75 year sentence. Sentences, for all the other counts, which will be served at the same time, range from 10 years to 11.5 years.

“This defendant preyed on the kindness and trust of others and today’s sentence of incarceration should serve as notice that we take these crimes seriously,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “This defendant not only defrauded and hurt the reputations of local businesses and a charity, but she also enlisted the help of unsuspecting teens to mask her criminal actions.”

In January of 2014 investigators learned that Pacheco created fake coupon books offering discounts on goods and services from local businesses and claimed the books were a legitimate fundraiser for the charity Students Against Destructive Decisions or SADD. She then recruited teenagers to help her sell the fake coupon books in Valley neighborhoods by offering to pay them a small percentage of the money they made.