BOISE, Idaho — The former Canyon County Prosecutor is facing felony charges after police say he stole more than $10,000 from a family member.
John T. Bujak, 50, of Eagle, turned himself in at Saturday night on charges of grand theft and misappropriation of personal information.
According to Meridian Police, a relative of Bujak called investigators on Aug. 20, 2019 to report that the former prosecutor had been stealing money from them over a two-year period. The family member told police that they had sent more than $10,000 to Bujak through money transfers during that time, with the understanding that the money was being placed into an IRA account.
Police say those funds were never put into a retirement account.
About a week later, the same family member reported that they had begun receiving phone calls from a collection agency about a loan they were not aware of. The victim told police that Bujak had used their information to take out a $1,600 cash loan in the relative's name.
Meridian Police routed their investigation to the Ada County Prosecutor's Office, which ultimately issued a warrant for Bujak's arrest.
Each charge carries a possible prison sentence of up to five years if Bujak is convicted.
Bujak resigned as Canyon County Prosecutor in 2010 after he was charged with embezzling from the county. He was ultimately found not guilty on those charges.
In 2014, he launched a failed bid for governor and also pleaded guilty to contempt for failing to pay child support. He continued working as an attorney until 2015, when he voluntarily gave up his law license as the State Bar mulled whether to disbar him.
Bujak was released from the Ada County Jail on his own recognizance. Information about his next court date has not yet been made public. KTVB has reached out to the Ada County Prosecutor's Office for more information; check back for updates.
