Arrested on suspicion of bank fraud and plotting to launder money, a Phoenix police officer recently quit her job before the department could fire her.

Toni Richardson has pleaded not guilty to crimes that federal prosecutors say are part of a multimillion-dollar lending scheme involving at least eight others.

The goal of the Paycheck Protection Program is to help companies stay in business during the pandemic. The loans, which can become grants if certain standards are met, are at the center of the case against Richardson.

Prosecutors say her arrest is connected to a handful of other indictments of Arizonans for also seeking emergency federal funding to pay employees and company bills that did not actually exist.

The feds say starting in April 2020, the suspects applied for dozens of loans, and received roughly $23 million combined.

Prosecutors accuse them of spending money on luxury goods, vehicles and properties.