CHANDLER, AZ (AZFamily) — The East Valley woman accused in a high-profile animal cruelty case has been indicted on multiple fraud charges, according to the Chandler Police Department.
April McLaughlin, who is also known by her alias Sydney S. McKinley, is accused of running an animal rescue out of her home, which reportedly had dead dogs in her freezer, and keeping dozens of others in poor conditions, leading the Arizona Humane Society to rescue them.
Authorities are now saying that McLaughlin, who operated SNAWL, the Special Needs Animal Welfare League, deceived dog owners and rescue groups across the country to obtain animals who needed special care. Police say she mispresented the availability of veterinarian services, therapies, and foster homes for the dogs under her care.
McLaughlin was rearrested in January on a 24-count indictment which was separate from the dozens of charges she initially faced.
She was initially booked on 110 charges, but the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office sent the case back to Chandler police for further review. It ultimately led to misdemeanor charges that were filed in city court in November.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell says this new indictment on McLaughlin related to the rescue she ran and for the alleged financial exploitation of her mother.
“I’d like to thank the Chandler Police Department, the case agent, the detectives who worked tirelessly in this case, and the prosecutors in my office who worked diligently with our law enforcement partners in bringing these charges forward,” said Mitchell.
Prosecutors allege that McLaughlin solicited over $47,000 under false pretenses, stole more than $160,000 from her mother’s bank account, and racked up over $20,000 on her mother’s credit card. Investigators say that McLaughlin used the money for personal expenses like flights, dining, and maintaining her home. Authorities say these types of investigation takes time.
“When you’re dealing with a financial crimes type investigation, a lot of different leads that you need to go down. Subpoenas, tracking out all operations and they’re working close with the County Attorney on exactly what do we need to bring this to resolution,” explained Police Chandler Police Chief Bryan Chapman
McLaughlin is currently jailed with the additional felony charges tacked on which include theft of a vulnerable adult, theft of a credit card, and unlawful use of a power of attorney.
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