At least we don’t have terrible problems like New Mexico. It seems that on Thursday, their (former) state treasurer pleaded guilty to a crime! Goodness!
{BC-NM Treasurer Convicted, 1st Ld-Writethru,0417}
{By BARRY MASSEY}=
{Associated Press Writer}=
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – Former New Mexico Treasurer Michael Montoya pleaded guilty Thursday to a state racketeering charge for his role in a kickback scheme, a case that grew out of his testimony in a federal prosecution of another former state treasurer.
Montoya had faced 16 state criminal charges, including soliciting or receiving illegal kickbacks and receiving or demanding bribes. Under a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the one count of racketeering and all other charges were dismissed. There was no agreement on sentencing.
The prosecution was criticized by defense lawyers, who said the state rarely brings charges against witnesses for criminal activities they testified about while cooperating in a federal case.
Montoya was a key witness for federal prosecutors in the case against Robert Vigil, who served as deputy treasurer under Montoya and succeeded him in the top job. Vigil is serving a three-year federal prison sentence for his conviction last year on a charge of attempted extortion.
State prosecutors said Montoya demanded kickbacks from investment advisers in exchange for steering state business to them. Similar allegations were made against Vigil by federal prosecutors. Only Montoya was charged by the state because its case was filed while a federal retrial for Vigil was pending.
Montoya, who will be sentenced Nov. 1, could receive up to nine years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Montoya, a Democrat, served as treasurer from 1995 to 2002. Vigil then held the job until he resigned in 2005.
In November 2005, Montoya pleaded guilty to a federal felony relating to the kickback scheme. He has not yet been sentenced.
With his plea in the state case, Montoya agreed to testify for the state in its prosecution of other defendants facing state charges stemming from the corruption in the treasurer’s office. Trials for a former treasurer’s office employee, an Albuquerque businessman and a California-based investment are set for later this year.
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