Former Flagstaff Mayoral Candidate Victor Varela Indicted By A Grand Jury For Submitting Fraudulent Signatures

Former Flagstaff Mayoral candidate Victor Varela has been indicted by a grand jury on 12 counts, including fraudulent schemes and practices, presentment of false instrument for filing and a signing of petitions violation. Varela was running for mayor of Flagstaff, but withdrew from the race earlier this month on the KAFF News Facebook page. Between January and April of this year, Varela knowingly made and submitted forged petition signatures, claiming it was tough to get signatures during the COVID-19 pandemic. He told the “Arizona Daily Sun” in an interview that “I got the names from Facebook. I got the addresses from a phone book. I made up addresses.” There’s no word on when a trial could begin. Assistant Attorney General Todd Lawson is prosecuting the case for the state.