At the proper time, we will respond fully. The Arizona Attorney General's Office would not comment when asked whether any of the Arthur Andersen accountants named in the accountancy board complaint will face criminal charges for their alleged roles in BFA's collapse. The Criminal Investigation. In 1998, the Arizona Attorney General's Office began a criminal investigation of certain BFA officers, including president William Crotts, attorney Thomas Grabinski, comptroller Don Deardoff and former board members Harold Friend, Jalma Hunsinger and Dwain Hoover. The investigation is ongoing.
Indictments have yet to be filed.
In 1999, investors filed a class-action fraud lawsuit against Andersen and BFA insiders, including Crotts, Hoover, Hunsinger, Friend, Deardoff and Grabinski. The Maricopa County Superior Court case is grinding along, hampered by the fact that four judges have recused themselves because of connections with Arthur Andersen or its lawyers. This means current judge Paul Katz has a backlog of motions to rule on. But Himelrick doesn't seem worried by Andersen's intransigence. The firm is known for fighting long court battles.