Prosecutors say Hantke submitted three falsified receipts for musical instruments to the Arizona Department of Education between December 2024 and August 2025. The documents purported to show purchases from Guitar Center, but investigators found discrepancies between order and shipping dates, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Two of the receipts involved acoustic guitars valued at just under $3,000 combined. The indictment does not identify the item or value listed on the third receipt.

A grand jury returned the indictment Sept. 23. Hantke faces one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, a Class 2 felony, and three forgery counts, each a Class 4 felony. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Arizona’s ESA program provides public funds to families who educate their children outside the public school system, including through private schools or homeschooling. Musical instruments are generally permitted expenses under program rules, making the allegations about the receipts—not the type of purchase—the focus of the case.

The program has faced criticism over how it monitors spending and prevents payments for ineligible or fraudulent purchases. More than 108,000 students were enrolled, according to state figures cited in the report. A state-developed app called Pathfinder was launched earlier this year to help families check whether purchases meet program guidelines.