One of the defendants in the Bernalillo County Metro Court scandal changed his plea on Friday and admitted to taking more than $2 million form taxpayers.
In admitting that he successfully conspired to steal what prosecutors say added up to $4.2 million during construction of the $83 million facility, Toby Martinez, former administrator of the court, could face up to 45 years in prison. Prosecutors agreed to seek less in exchange for his testimony against the other defendants, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting.
Martinez is the fourth to plead guilty in the case, while four others, including former Senate President Manny Aragon, are still facing felony charges including conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering. Read the indictment by clicking here.
One interesting point from Friday’s plea bargain, according to the Journal: Martinez said in the plea agreement that he “personally observed” one of the other men who has entered into a plea bargain, Marc Schiff, “make a delivery of bulk cash to Senator Aragon.” He says the cash “constituted (his) share of criminally derived proceeds.”
Under the plea agreement, Martinez agreed to forfeit $600,000 in mail-fraud proceeds that have been invested in a hotel and casino in Tennessee, the Journal is reporting, in addition to a 2005 Lexus and other real estate and bank accounts.
Martinez’s wife is still facing charges. She and the others are scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 28, but the trial could be delayed as other defendants’ attorneys try to figure out how to shift strategy in response to Martinez’s plea agreement.