The state attorney general’s office is investigating a Minuteman Civil Defense Corps leader in Tombstone over suspected involvement in an alleged property assessment scam.

Steve Wilson, public information officer for the attorney general’s office, confirmed Wednesday that Carmen Mercer registered a Phoenix post office box in her name where checks were mailed to Property Tax Review Board Inc., the corporation now suspected of fraud.

Property Tax Review Board Inc. sent out official-looking letters that encouraged property owners to mail in $189 to have their 2009 property assessments reduced. The Cochise County assessor warned property owners that it could be a scam.

Mercer, who runs the OK Cafe in Tombstone, said in an interview that an attorney friend in Texas had asked her to open a Phoenix box and that the company would be opening an Arizona office soon. Mercer said she got the post office box and mailed the key to her Texas friend, whom she would not identify. This woman was supposed to transfer the post office box into her name, but apparently that was not done, Mercer said.

The attorney general’s office became suspicious of fraud, though Wilson would not say how, and began an investigation.

Mercer said she was contacted by the attorney general’s office and the postmaster general and was later questioned in Phoenix.

She said she was told that 1,000 letters from unsuspecting Arizonans had been confiscated from the box.

She said she thought, “I don’t want anyone to be a victim of something like that.”

“I thought (my friend) was a very honest person,” Mercer said.

She said she thought it was over until she was handed a lawsuit from the attorney general’s office. She said her friend offered an affidavit to help her, but the attorney general’s office was not interested.

“I’m the president of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. We fight for the rule of law. I wouldn’t involve the Minutemen in anything like this,” Mercer said. “I’m not guilty of anything. I had no interest in that company. I just did a favor for a friend.”

Mercer claims Attorney General Terry Goddard wants publicity for his gubernatorial campaign and is pursuing her for political gain. She said the matter had been blown out of proportion.

Wilson denies that. “It has nothing to do with that,” he said.

Wilson would not name the other woman because all aspects of the case are under investigation.

Trading accusations

Goddard has filed a restraining order to stop mailings from Property Tax Review Board Inc. and has filed suit against Mercer and the president and chief executive officer of Property Tax Review Board Inc., Wilson said.

Californian Michael McConville is listed on the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Web site as the president and CEO of the company. Documents filed with the Corporation Commission state that Property Tax Review Board Inc. is a “foreign corporation applying for authority to transact business in the state of Arizona,” with Delaware as the state of foreign incorporation. The statutory agent of the foreign corporation in Arizona is National Registered Agents Inc. at a Phoenix address. The company is listed as “in good standing” on the Corporation Commission’s Web site.

Corporation Commission public information officer Rebecca Wilder explained, “Our function is only administerial.” As long as a company pays the fees and files all the necessary forms, the commission would not change that status.

Arizona is not the only state with residents targeted in the alleged scam. California’s attorney general filed suit against McConville alleging fraud and stated that the company seldom files assessment appeals on behalf of the clients who send money. Nevada residents also are being warned.

“How can they suspect a grandmother?” said Mercer, who has a hearing set for Aug. 25 in federal court in Phoenix. “I’m going to stand my ground and stand tall. I have done nothing wrong.”

Shar porier can be reached at 515-4692. or by e-mail at shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.

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