Robert Flaxman, the CEO of Crown Realty and Development that spearheaded two prominent Paradise Valley resorts and City North in Phoenix, has died.

Crown Realty and Development is a southern California-based real estate company, with a significant presence in Arizona after spearheading the development of what is now the Omni Montelucia and Mountain Shadows resorts in the Town of Paradise Valley. Crown Realty also owns and is developing City North in north Phoenix, a massive roughly 5,000-acre project, as well as Adeline, a luxury high-rise residential building across from the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.

Flaxman died by suicide, according to published news reports citing the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. He was 66.

“We have had a wonderful seat with Robert at the Crown table for so many years. What a businessman he was! What an emotional and incredibly sad day it was to learn of his passing,” said Jim O’Neill and Rick Carpinelli. Carpinelli is a Paradise Valley resident and has led Crown Realty’s Arizona development for nearly 20 years. O’Neill is senior vice president of Crown Realty for California operations.

“We are shocked by the loss of friend, father, husband and businessman with an acumen second to none. There are no words of comfort at this time for his family and friends. It is a huge loss for all of us,” said O’Neill and Carpinelli in a written statement.

In 2019, Flaxman was among 50 people charged in a nationwide college admissions scandal. At that time, the Independent reported Flaxman was accused of paying $250,000 to get his son admitted to University of San Diego as an athlete; and of paying $75,000 for assisting his daughter on her ACT exam.

Flaxman reportedly plead guilty and was sentenced to one month in prison, followed by a year of supervised release.