Azonie's Blog

Paradise Valley Socialite Deported Under Plea Deal

August 30th, 2007 @ 2:42pm

Sonia Falcone
by Associated Press
An Arizona socialite and former Bolivian beauty queen was scheduled to leave the country Thursday under a plea deal with federal prosecutors that included a deportation order.

Sonia Falcone will not be not allowed to return to the U.S. for 10 years. Her departure stems from a misdemeanor charge of hiring foreign workers not legally authorized to work for her at her Paradise Valley estate.

Falcone expects to temporarily resettle her family in China. She spoke with the East Valley Tribune newspaper during an exclusive interview at a lavish party she threw for 70 close friends at a Scottsdale gallery.

``I will not say goodbye to my friends,'' she said. ``I will say 'See you later.'''

Some of Falcone's supporters allege said she was targeted by federal authorities because of her husband and his alleged involvement in an illegal arms trafficking deal to Angola in the early 1990s.

Pierre Falcone served time in a French prison but has never been charged or convicted, according to international media reports.

Federal authorities have denied the indictments against Sonia Falcone had anything to do with her husband.

Friends and family said they were stunned that Sonia Falcone was ordered to leave.

``We don't think it's fair. We couldn't believe it,'' said Falcone's brother-in-law, Harold Weisheim of Phoenix.

``It's a misappropriation of justice. She's been a tremendous asset to our community,'' said friend Bob Machiz of Scottsdale. He pointed out Falcone's longtime philanthropic efforts including the De Colores Domestic Violence Center in Phoenix, the Arizona Opera, American Heart Association and Phoenix Children's Theatre.

Falcone said she plans to continue her work with the charities from abroad.

Meantime, Falcone seems to have come to terms with her fate.

``If I stop and think about it, I could cry. I am human,'' said Falcone, adding that taking care of her children and looking forward to the family's reunion with her husband in Beijing is diverting her mind from her current troubles.