Those who testified in federal court last month against former state Treasurer Robert Vigil, including Vigil\u2019s predecessor Michael Montoya, were indicted on a host of state charges Friday.<\/p>\n
The indictments were based on their testimony. None received immunity from Attorney General Patricia Madrid before testifying, according to a news release.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the sworn testimony of Michael Montoya, Kent Nelson, Angelo Garcia and Leo Sandoval, we see a history of complete disregard for the public trust and a lack of professional responsibility,\u201d Attorney General Patricia Madrid said. \u201cIn his testimony, Michael Montoya described soliciting and accepting bribes from those who wanted to do business with the state. The actions of Montoya, Nelson, Garcia, and Sandoval erode public confidence in our state government, and they should therefore be held accountable by the state for their numerous violations of state law.\u201d<\/p>\n
Madrid also pledged to seek restitution from those indicted.<\/p>\n
This will certainly be spun by some as a political move. Madrid is trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M. this year, and has been plagued during the campaign by allegations that she failed to investigate the treasurer\u2019s office and stop the corruption there years ago.<\/p>\n
But one source defended Madrid and told me that it was stupid of the attorneys for those indicted today to not insist on state and federal immunity in exchange for their testimony in federal court.<\/p>\n
\u201cShame on the lawyer for Montoya,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n
Vigil was not indicted on state charges in the massive public corruption investigation. He is currently awaiting a second federal trial after the first ended with a hung jury last month.<\/p>\n
Montoya has been indicted on 16 counts:<\/strong> Nelson, a former investment advisor, has been indicted on 39 counts: Bagman Garcia has been indicted on 39 counts:<\/strong> Sandoval, a former treasurer\u2019s office employee, has been indicted on 31 counts:<\/strong> Those who testified in federal court last month against former state Treasurer Robert Vigil, including Vigil\u2019s predecessor Michael Montoya, were indicted on a host of state charges Friday. The indictments were based on their testimony. None received immunity from Attorney General Patricia Madrid before testifying, according to a news release. \u201cFrom the sworn testimony of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u2022 Seven counts of demanding or receiving a bribe by a public officer or public employee. Each count is a third-degree felony with a maximum sentence of three years and a fine not to exceed $5,000.
\u2022 Seven counts of soliciting or receiving illegal kickback. Each count is a fourth-degree felony with a maximum sentence of 18 months and a fine not to exceed $5,000.
\u2022 One count of racketeering, a second-degree felony with a maximum sentence of 9 years and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
\u2022 One count of contracts, agreements, combinations or conspiracies in restraint of trade, a fourth-degree felony with a maximum sentence of 18 months and a fine not to exceed $5,000.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>\u2022 Nine counts of bribery of public officer or public employee.
\u2022 14 counts of offering or paying illegal kickback. Each count is a fourth-degree felony with a maximum sentence of 18 months and a fine not to exceed $5,000.
\u2022 14 counts of money laundering. Each count is a fourth-degree felony with a maximum sentence of 18 months and a fine not to exceed $5,000.
\u2022 One count of racketeering.
\u2022 One count of contracts, agreements, combinations or conspiracies in restraint of trade.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Seven counts of bribery of public officer or public employee.
\u2022 15 counts of offering or paying illegal kickback.
\u2022 15 counts of money laundering.
\u2022 One count of contracts, agreements, combinations or conspiracies in restraint of trade.
\u2022 One count of racketeering.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Seven counts of bribery of public officer or public employee.
\u2022 Seven counts of offering or paying illegal kickback.
\u2022 Seven counts of money laundering.
\u2022 Four counts of demanding or receiving bribe by public officer or public employee.
\u2022 Four counts of soliciting or receiving illegal kickback.
\u2022 One count of racketeering.
\u2022 One count of contracts, agreements, combinations or conspiracies in restraint of trade.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"