Stephanie Hockridge - Former Anchor's Legal Matters

Brad Mayer 20 Jun 2025

A recent development has brought a familiar name, Stephanie Hockridge, back into public conversation. Someone who was once a well-known face on local television, a news anchor, has been involved in some significant legal proceedings. This is, you know, quite a turn of events for someone previously seen reporting the news.

For several years, from 2011 until 2018, Stephanie Hockridge worked as a news anchor for ABC15. Her time on screen meant she was a regular presence for many people watching the local news. So, it's perhaps a bit surprising to hear about her recent legal findings, which stem from something that happened after her broadcasting career.

The situation revolves around a financial tech company that Stephanie Hockridge started in Scottsdale during 2020. She began this venture with her husband, Nathan Reis, and some other individuals. This business became connected to certain federal charges involving the Paycheck Protection Program, a government initiative designed to help small businesses.

Stephanie Hockridge - A Look Back at Her Career
- Early Days as Stephanie Hockridge
The Financial Tech Company and Stephanie Hockridge
- How Did Stephanie Hockridge Get Involved?
What Were the Allegations Against Stephanie Hockridge?
- The Paycheck Protection Program and Stephanie Hockridge
The Trial of Stephanie Hockridge - What Happened?
- The Verdict for Stephanie Hockridge
What Comes Next for Stephanie Hockridge and Others?
- Stephanie Hockridge - The Path Ahead
What is the Paycheck Protection Program?
- Understanding the PPP and Stephanie Hockridge's Connection

Stephanie Hockridge - A Look Back at Her Career

Before the recent legal matters came to light, Stephanie Hockridge was, you know, a familiar face in the local news circuit. She spent a good chunk of her professional life working as a news anchor. This role typically involves delivering daily reports and staying informed on current events for the public.

Early Days as Stephanie Hockridge

From 2011 to 2018, Stephanie Hockridge held a position as a news anchor at ABC15. That's a period of seven years, you see, where she was regularly on television screens. Her job was to present the news to viewers, which means she was a public figure for a significant amount of time. People in the Phoenix area, I mean, would have recognized her from their evening news broadcasts. It’s fair to say she built a public profile during her time in broadcasting. She was, in some respects, a part of many people's daily routines as they got their news.

Personal Details and Bio Data - Stephanie Hockridge

Name	Stephanie Hockridge
Known For	Former ABC15 News Anchor
Years as Anchor (ABC15)	2011-2018
Spouse	Nathan Reis
Later Venture	Co-founded financial tech company (2020)

The Financial Tech Company and Stephanie Hockridge

After her time in news broadcasting came to an end, Stephanie Hockridge moved into a different kind of work. She got involved in the world of financial technology, which is, you know, quite a change from reporting the news. This new business was set up in Scottsdale, a city known for its business activity. It was a fresh start, in a way, for her professional path.

How Did Stephanie Hockridge Get Involved?

In the year 2020, Stephanie Hockridge, along with her husband, Nathan Reis, and some other individuals, began this financial tech company. So, it wasn't just her alone; it was a group effort to get this new business off the ground. The company's work later became linked to specific government programs, particularly those designed to help small businesses during a challenging time. This venture, you know, marked a significant shift from her previous career as a news anchor. It shows a different side to her professional interests, moving from public communication to business operations.

What Were the Allegations Against Stephanie Hockridge?

The legal issues Stephanie Hockridge faced stemmed from accusations related to the Paycheck Protection Program. This program, put in place by the government, was meant to give forgivable loans to small businesses. The accusations against her and her husband, Nathan Reis, were about how they helped businesses get these loans. It seems, in some respects, that the authorities believed something wasn't quite right with the process.

The core of the matter involved claims of falsifying documents. This means, you know, that papers or records might have been changed or made up to fit certain requirements. The indictment against them, which is a formal accusation, was made public in the Northern District of Texas. It suggested that they were trying to get a larger amount of money, perhaps through what the authorities called "kickbacks from borrowers." This is what the legal system was looking into, basically, regarding their activities with the loan program.

The Paycheck Protection Program and Stephanie Hockridge

Stephanie Hockridge and her husband, Nathan Reis, were accused of federal fraud charges. These charges were connected to their efforts to assist small businesses in obtaining loans from the Paycheck Protection Program. This program, you see, was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act. The idea behind the CARES Act was to provide financial support during a difficult economic period. The accusations were that the couple had, in some way, acted improperly in their role of helping businesses access these funds. It was a serious set of claims, really, that brought them before the court.

The Trial of Stephanie Hockridge - What Happened?

The legal process for Stephanie Hockridge involved a trial where evidence was presented and arguments were made. This kind of proceeding, you know, is where a jury hears all the information and then decides on the facts. It's a significant event for anyone involved, especially when it concerns federal charges. The trial took place under the supervision of a district judge in Fort Worth, which is where the case was heard.

During the trial, the prosecution presented its case, and the defense had a chance to respond. The jury, which is a group of ordinary citizens, listened to everything. Their job was to consider all the evidence and then make a decision about the charges. This process can be quite lengthy, and it requires a lot of attention to detail from everyone involved. It was, in a way, the culmination of the investigation and the formal accusations that had been made earlier.

The Verdict for Stephanie Hockridge

After hearing all the information, the jury reached a decision regarding Stephanie Hockridge. She was found guilty of one specific charge: conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This means the jury believed she was part of a plan to commit fraud using electronic communication. However, it's also important to note that she was found not guilty on four other counts of wire fraud. So, while one charge resulted in a conviction, several others did not. The jury acquitted her, basically, on those four additional counts. This outcome, you know, shows a mixed result from the trial proceedings. It highlights that the jury considered each charge individually, making separate decisions for each one. The decision was delivered on a Friday, according to the records.

What Comes Next for Stephanie Hockridge and Others?

With the verdict now delivered for Stephanie Hockridge, there are, you know, usually next steps in the legal system. For her, the conviction on one charge means there will be further proceedings, typically involving sentencing. This part of the process determines the consequences of the conviction. It's a formal procedure where the court decides on an appropriate outcome based on the law and the specifics of the case.

As for her husband, Nathan Reis, his trial is scheduled for a later date, in August. So, his legal process is still ongoing. The unsealed indictment against both of them, which became public earlier, had outlined potential consequences if they were convicted on all charges. It had stated that, if found guilty on every count, they could spend the rest of their lives behind bars. However, for Stephanie Hockridge, the actual outcome was a conviction on one charge and acquittals on four others, which changes the overall picture significantly from that initial hypothetical scenario. The legal paths for both individuals are, in some respects, separate at this point, with different timelines for their respective trials or next steps.

Stephanie Hockridge - The Path Ahead

Given the jury's decision, Stephanie Hockridge now faces the consequences of the conspiracy to commit wire fraud conviction. The legal system will move to the next phase, which is typically sentencing. This involves the judge determining the appropriate penalty. The fact that she was found not guilty on multiple other charges, you know, means the situation is not as severe as it might have been if all charges had resulted in convictions. The legal journey for her has certainly been a public one, given her past as a news anchor. Her husband's trial, as mentioned, is still on the horizon, meaning their combined legal matters are still, in a way, unfolding.

What is the Paycheck Protection Program?

The Paycheck Protection Program, often called PPP, was a government effort started during the coronavirus pandemic. Its main purpose was to help small businesses keep their employees on the payroll. This was a response to the economic difficulties many businesses faced due to the widespread health crisis. The program offered loans that, under certain conditions, could be forgiven. This meant businesses might not have to pay them back if they used the money for specific things, like wages. It was, you know, a way to try and stabilize the economy and support employment during an uncertain time.

The program was set up through the Small Business Administration, or SBA, which is a federal agency that supports small businesses. It was part of a larger legislative package called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act. The CARES Act was passed to provide broad economic relief across the country. The PPP was a significant part of that, offering a lifeline to many businesses that were struggling. The idea was to prevent mass layoffs and help businesses weather the storm, basically, by providing financial assistance that could turn into a grant if used correctly.

Understanding the PPP and Stephanie Hockridge's Connection

The loans offered by the PPP were designed to be forgivable, which was a key feature for businesses. This meant if the funds were used for specific purposes, like payroll costs, rent, or utilities, the loan could be turned into a grant, and the business wouldn't have to repay it. This made the program very appealing to many small business owners who were facing severe financial pressure. Stephanie Hockridge and her husband, Nathan Reis, were indicted on federal fraud charges because of their alleged involvement in helping businesses get these forgivable loans. The accusations centered on their methods for obtaining these funds, suggesting that some actions taken were not in line with the program's rules. This connection, you know, places their activities directly within the framework of this government relief effort.

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