Ex-Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen pleads guilty to human smuggling charge
A federal judge on Tuesday set a change-of-plea hearing for Paul Petersen, a Republican who served as Maricopa County’s assessor for six years until his resignation in January.
Paul Petersen pleads guilty to human smuggling in adoption scheme
Paul Petersen, a Republican who served county assessor in metro Phoenix, has also struck a plea agreement with Arizona prosecutors on state Medicaid-fraud charges. He’s expected to enter similar pleas to federal charges in Arkansas next week.
Former Maricopa County Assessor pleads guilty in connection to adoption fraud investigation
Former Maricopa County Assessor Paul Peterson has pleaded guilty to fraud charges in connection to a human trafficking adoption scheme involving women from the Marshall Islands.
Co-defendant: Prostitution camp provided women in human smuggling case
A co-defendant in an alleged human smuggling operation told police that a prostitution camp in the Marshall Islands provided many of the pregnant women involved in former Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen's allegedly illegal adoption business.
Gilbert councilman Eddie Cook selected as new Maricopa County Assessor
Cook replaces Paul Petersen who's accused of running a human smuggling operation that paid pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to give up their babies in the United States.
Efforts underway to choose replacement Maricopa County Assessor
Maricopa County is moving closer to selecting a new assessor who will serve out the remainder of Paul Petersen's term.
Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen resigns amidst human smuggling accusations
Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen, who is accused of running a human smuggling operation that paid pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to give up their babies in the U.S., has resigned from his position.
Maricopa County board upholds Assessor Paul Petersen's suspension
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has voted to uphold Assessor Paul Petersen's suspension, who's accused of directing an international human smuggling scheme.
Arizona politician's alleged adoption aide pleads guilty
A woman accused of aiding a politician in metro Phoenix in what authorities say was an illegal adoption scheme involving women from the Marshall Islands has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and theft charges.
Maricopa County delays decision on official facing smuggling charge
An Arizona county won't decide before Christmas whether to reinstate an elected official who was suspended when he was accused of directing an international human smuggling scheme, a spokesman said Thursday.
Embattled Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen appeals his suspension
Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen, who is accused of running an international adoption scheme, is appealing his suspension from office.
Board of Supervisors meet ahead of suspension hearing for Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen
Maricopa County Supervisors are preparing to do something that has never been done in the county's history, conduct an appeal hearing for a suspended official.
Arizona official seeks trial delay in human trafficking case
An Arizona official charged with running an adoption-fraud scheme involving women from the Marshall Islands has asked an Arkansas court to delay his trial for 10 months.
Lawyers investigate Arizona official in child smuggling case
Officials in Arizona have hired two law firms and a former attorney general to investigate an elected county assessor who is trying to keep his job as he defends himself against human smuggling charges.
Attorney: Arizona man charged in adoption case 'made happy families'
An Arizona elected official charged with running an adoption-fraud scheme involving women from the Marshall Islands ran a legal practice and “made happy families,” his attorney said.
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors sets appeal hearing for Paul Petersen
Maricopa County Assessor, Paul Petersen is challenging the Board of Supervisor's decision to suspend him.
First woman completes planned adoption following scandal involving Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen
Eight Marshallese women have been caught in the middle of an international adoption scandal involving suspended Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen, and now some that were brought to Arizona to give birth are moving away.
Arizona official accused of human smuggling contests suspension
Paul Petersen has requested a hearing to contest his suspension as Maricopa County assessor while he awaits trial for human smuggling and other charges related to his adoption business.
Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen pleads not guilty to over 30 charges
For the first time since his arrest last month, Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen appeared in an Arizona court where he pleaded not guilty to nearly three dozen charges, including fraud, conspiracy and theft in connection to an international adoption scheme.
Maricopa County board names temporary replacement for Assessor Paul Petersen
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has appointed the former county flood control director as a temporary replacement for suspended Assessor Paul Petersen.