In the last day of his presidency, Donald Trump issued a host of pardons, including one for former U.S. Representative Rick Renzi, who has ties to Sonoita and Elgin.
Renzi was convicted in 2013 “Mr. Renzi was convicted of extortion, bribery, insurance fraud, money laundering, and racketeering. He was sentenced to 2 years in Federal prison, 2 years of supervised release, and paid a $25,000 fine,” according to a statement from the White House Press secretary’s office. Part of his conviction stemmed from his involvement in “a federal land-exchange proposal involving the long-controversial plans for a mine at Oak Flat,” according to AZ Central. He was released from prison in 2017.
Renzi owned Patriot Insurance on Los Encinos Rd. in Sonoita, until he turned it over to his wife in 2002 when he was elected to Congress. He also owned a home and small vineyard in Elgin.