A former Tucson charter school director is facing dozens of felony charges after state investigators say he and two others turned school funds into a personal piggy bank for years. His name is Jason Edward Riegert, and he served as executive director of Academy del Sol, a tuition-free K-8 charter school with two locations in Tucson known for its fine arts focus.
A Pima County grand jury indicted Riegert on July 27, 2026, on 22 felony counts, and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the charges publicly on September 8. His wife, Staci Renee Barton, and the school’s former office administrator, Kimberly Richards, were indicted alongside him.
What They’re Accused Of
According to the indictment, the alleged scheme ran from January 24, 2018, to December 12, 2024, more than six years. Riegert faces charges including conspiracy, illegally conducting an enterprise, theft, misappropriation of charter school funds, computer tampering, fraudulent schemes and artifices, and forgery.
Court documents say Riegert, Barton, and Richards agreed that at least one of them would carry out the theft, computer tampering, fraudulent schemes, and forgery involved in the alleged scheme. Prosecutors say they misused more than $100,000 belonging to the school, including more than $25,000 in public education funds that came directly from the state.
The Shell Company Angle
Here’s where things get more elaborate. The indictment accuses Riegert and Richards of setting up a company called Platinum Educational Solutions, owned by Riegert, and using it to bill the school for student support services that were never actually provided. Richards allegedly helped disguise those payments in the school’s accounting books, listing them as legitimate costs for things like landscaping, cleaning, and technology.
Investigators also say Riegert and Richards tampered with the school’s computer and accounting systems to help pull the whole thing off.
Where the Money Allegedly Went
The list of alleged personal spending reads less like charter school administration and more like a lifestyle upgrade. According to the indictment, funds went toward trips to casinos, jewelry and craft stones, a luxury steakhouse in Phoenix, and vacations to New York City, Las Vegas, and Hawaii. Riegert and Richards are also accused of using school money to buy a 2020 Cadillac Escalade, while Riegert and Barton allegedly used funds to cover home repairs and renovations. There’s also mention of plastic surgery expenses tied to the same scheme.
Prosecutors say Riegert and Barton stole at least $100,000 from the school. Richards is accused of helping mask those transactions as ordinary business costs so they wouldn’t stand out in a financial review.
Why Charter School Funding Matters Here
It’s worth understanding why this kind of fraud is possible in the first place. Charter schools in Arizona are publicly funded and often receive money at a higher rate than traditional district schools, since charters don’t collect property tax revenue the way districts do. Some also receive additional donations or grants. That funding structure means there’s real public money moving through these schools, and when internal oversight is weak, it can create room for exactly this kind of scheme to go unnoticed for years.
Charges and What’s Next
All three defendants face one count of conspiracy and one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices involving $100,000 or more. Richards and Riegert additionally face 13 counts of forgery between them, along with charges of conducting an illegal enterprise and computer tampering. Riegert and Barton are also charged separately with theft and misappropriation of charter school funds.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Ashton is prosecuting the case. The school’s website now lists interim leadership in place of Riegert.
Where the Case Stands
Right now, this is still just an indictment, meaning none of the allegations have been proven in court. Riegert, Barton, and Richards are all presumed innocent unless the state proves its case in Pima County Superior Court. Given how detailed the indictment is, with specific transactions, trips, and purchases laid out, this case is likely to draw plenty of attention as it moves forward.