Former deputy insurance superintendent arrested

A former state deputy insurance superintendent was arrested today on public-corruption charges, the Santa Fe New Mexican is reporting.

Joseph Ruiz, 66, was scheduled to be arraigned in Albuquerque this afternoon, the newspaper reported. Until then, his indictment remained sealed.

I was unable to reach the U.S. attorney’s office for more information, and the newspaper hasn’t yet reported further details.

Ruiz was arrested by the FBI after the indictment was handed down Thursday. Ruiz was deputy superintendent from 2001-2006 under former Insurance Superintendent Eric Serna.

Ruiz was fired in August 2006 and, before that, he had been on paid leave amid allegations that he solicited donations from an insurance company, the newspaper reported.

I’ll have more on this as it becomes available.

Update, 4:40 p.m.

According to the Associated Press, Ruiz was indicted for allegedly misusing his office by asking companies for donations to organizations or individuals in exchange for his recommendation to Serna of reduced fines or no fines. Ruiz is charged with extortion, mail fraud, wire fraud and corrupt solicitation.

Serna, the news service points out, retired last year in an agreement with the Public Regulation Commission “after the agency suspended him over conflict-of-interest issues.”