Posted on 10/13/2005 9:42:49 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
ALBUQUERQUE - Federal prosecutors charged New Mexico's state treasurer with 19 counts of extortion Wednesday, alleging he pocketed $265,000 in kickbacks while investing public money.
Treasurer Robert Vigil had pleaded not guilty to two earlier counts of extortion in the case and maintains his innocence, attorney Sam Bregman said. He called the FBI's and U.S. attorney's evidence in support of the indictment "pathetic."
"I've never been more sure of an outcome in a criminal case than I am today. And that outcome will be not guilty," Bregman said.
Prosecutors also have charged former Treasurer Michael Montoya in the alleged scheme, contending both elected officials demanded kickbacks from investment advisers in exchange for steering state business to them.
Montoya, who has also pleaded not guilty, was treasurer from 1995 to 2002. Vigil was his deputy treasurer starting in 1998 and became treasurer in January 2003.
In the indictment, prosecutors cite, among other evidence, a June 2001 transaction in which Vigil wrote a letter requiring Morgan Stanley to pay a $350,000 brokerage fee to a company connected with the treasurer's office's financial adviser, Kent Nelson. The transaction involved a $700 million state contract.
The indictment says Vigil required Nelson to transfer "substantial portions of his commission" to bank accounts controlled by Angelo Garcia, an associate of Vigil.
Vigil then would direct the disbursement of those funds, the indictment says.
Garcia has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting extortion and is cooperating with prosecutors in exchange for a lighter sentence. Nelson has pleaded guilty to mail fraud and also agreed to testify in exchange for a reduced sentence.
Vigil, meanwhile, has refused to resign, despite a request by Gov. Bill Richardson. State lawmakers are planning proceedings that could lead to his impeachment.
During the years of the alleged scheme, the State Board of Finance repeatedly criticized the treasurer's office for its use of outside investment advisers, saying it was costly for the state, according to the indictment.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1487627/posts
New Mexico Treasurer Vigil Arrested on Racketeering Charges ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1485851/posts
If it wasn't for Oklahoma, Texas would be surrounded by corrupt, third-world governments.
(D) ?.................
That the article didn't mention party affiliation is just an oversight, I'm sure.
(steely)
Fer sure he's a 'rat. If he was republican that would be in the headline.
Yup, The Culture of Corruption lives alright.
It's the same old reFRain,
Sung in the Key of D ,, ;-)
Man, I sure hope the Feds send the same team of investigators to finish up the investigation of Maine State Atty. Gen. Steve Rowe (D).
Man, I sure hope the Feds send the same team of investigators to finish up the investigation of Maine State Atty. Gen. Steve Rowe (D).
Yeah, Yahoo wouldn't skip over a major piece of info like that on purpose.................
This is even worse than what happened in Ohio. At least there, they were only stupid and incompetent. In this case, he's a crook.
Notice they didn't even give the Gov's affiliation, either. Must completely insulate the possible POTUS candidate.......
Spot the difference in these two headlines:
1)Federal prosecutors charged New Mexico's state treasurer with 19 counts of extortion
2)REPUBLICAN Majority Leader Tom Delay, main figurehead of the REPUBLICAN Party and good friend of REPUBLICAN GEORGE Bush, known to eat with REPUBLICANS and generally running as a REPUBLICAN in REPUBLICAN Primaries or else he wouldn't be called a REPUBLICAN, was INDICTED today by a democrat.
T'ain't no such critter.
NAME — Robert Vigil
AGE — 51, born Oct. 26, 1953
HOME — Ribera
EDUCATION — B.A. in accounting and business administration, New Mexico Highlands University (1982); certified public accountant (1989).
EXPERIENCE — Elected state treasurer, 2002; deputy state treasurer (1998-2001); candidate for governor, 1998 Democratic primary; state auditor (1991-98); former state Health and Environment Department (1976-89).
I didn't see an 'R' by his name. Does that mean he's a 'D?'
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