Felecia Rotellini is a veteran prosecutor and consumer advocate...

...with over 23 years of experience in private and public law. Although best known for her work on the Baptist Foundation of Arizona (BFA) case, she already had earned a reputation as a fair and fierce financial watchdog and criminal prosecutor.

In 1992, after six years in private practice as a trial attorney, Felecia joined the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, serving under Attorneys General Grant Woods, Janet Napolitano and Terry Goddard. She worked in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions, prosecuting complex real estate and financial fraud and appearing before the State Grand Jury, and state and federal courts in Arizona and California. Known for her willingness to take on the "Goliath" companies — who have unlimited resources for defense costs — she earned a reputation as a tireless advocate and a voice for victims of consumer and financial fraud.

Beginning in 1999, Felecia was the State’s lead litigator in its investigation of Arthur Andersen over the accounting giant’s services to the Baptist Foundation of Arizona (BFA). The result was a global settlement that returned $217 million to investors who had been swindled in a complex Ponzi scheme. In addition, during her 13 years in the Attorney General’s Office, she secured over $3 million dollars in fines and two published legal opinions favoring the State.

In 2006, Governor Napolitano appointed her Superintendent of the State Banking Department, now the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Felecia quickly recognized that the developing crisis in home mortgage lending posed the greatest threat to Arizona. Her goals were twofold: beef up enforcement and make loan officers that work with consumers responsible for what they say and do. Partnering with HUD, she formed the Mortgage Fraud Task Force that united regulatory agencies and city, state and federal law enforcement.

In August 2009, Felecia received the "Excellence in Cooperative Law Enforcement" Award, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, for her agency’s participation in "Operation Cash Back" that indicted 36 individuals involved in mortgage fraud. Under her leadership, the FBI invited DFI to join the new Phoenix Financial Crimes and Mortgage Fraud Task Force — the first time a state regulator has been invited to join an FBI task force.

Fighting off the lobbying efforts of national companies, such as AIG and Countrywide, from 2006–2008, she worked diligently with the Arizona Legislature and leaders in the mortgage industry to pass a law that requires mortgage loan officers to be licensed — now only qualified, competent persons of good character can work with borrowers to get a home loan.

In late August 2009, she resigned her post as Superintendent to join the Phoenix law firm of Zwillinger & Greek PC. Felecia grew up in Sheridan, Wyoming and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. Arizona has been her home since 1986 after her graduation from Notre Dame Law School. She is a member of the Arizona and Wyoming State Bars. From 1990 to 2002, she was a trustee of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix Foundation, serving two terms as president.