Commission Finds Mesa Woman Defrauded Investors with COVID-Related Investment Scam

The Arizona Corporation Commission issued a default order against Christine Lewis of Mesa requiring her to pay $283,000 in restitution and a $30,000 administrative penalty for defrauding investors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commission found Mrs. Lewis misrepresented to investors that she had lucrative contracts to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals amid the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, promising two investors investment returns ranging from 20 to more than 500 percent. When investors asked to see the contracts, Mrs. Lewis stated the agreement was a proprietary business opportunity that could not be shared for fear of them stealing the opportunity. However, no evidence was found to support that investor monies were used to purchase PPE to fulfill a contract.

All documents relating to this agenda item can be found in the Corporation Commission's online docket at edocket.azcc.gov and entering docket number S-21199A-22-016.