Tony Bouie, former director of the Arizona Lottery, who left the agency abruptly last month under a cloud, is being investigated by Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s office, a spokesman for the AG confirmed last week.
Bouie defended himself in January, declaring to the Lottery Post: “There is much more to this story than is being told. I have followed the rules that I was trained on,” the magazine reported.
The investigation is being led by the AG’s criminal division. No details on the investigation such as specific allegations have been forthcoming.
According to a spokesman, “We can’t discuss the specifics of ongoing investigations. But the attorney general is committed to investigating legitimate allegations of fraud or government mismanagement, and if appropriate, prosecuting.”
The Phoenix New Times recently published an investigation, which told of the use of a state-owned car to transport Bouie’s children, something he has denied.
Bouie’s hiring practices, and allegations that he was given seats and lofts for his personal use and funds to decorate parts of his office, have also surfaced.
The interim director of the lottery, Kevin Donnellan, former deputy director of the Department of Administration, is also conducting an investigation.
Bouie last year was an early appointment of Governor Doug Ducey, who has said that he supports “full transparency.”
