Contact: Erika Martinez
(505)986-4819
Erika.Martinez@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2014
Senator Candelaria Calls for Consideration of Fraud Against Taxpayers Action to Recover Misused T.A. Funds
Santa Fe, NM – Today, New Mexico State Auditor Hector Balderas briefed the Legislative Land Grant Committee on the Tierra Amarilla (T.A.) Land Grant audit. An investigation took place after a mineral rights lease was executed by land grant members without sufficient public input. Balderas reviewed a letter, previously sent to the committee chairs about the findings, uncovering “questionable” purchases by the now-deceased T.A. Land Grant board president and others.
The matter has since been referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the NM Attorney General’s Office, and the Fraud Investigations Division of the state Taxation and Revenue Department. A criminal investigation is ongoing.
Questionable transactions committed by former members of the TA land grant board total approximately $233,000. In response, Committee Chair, Senator Jacob Candelaria (D-26-Bernalillo), encouraged Balderas’ office, as well as the Attorney General, to look into the applicability of the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act (FATA).
“According to the act, if the attorney general discovers that someone has committed fraud against taxpayers, then the attorney general may bring a civil action against that person or persons to recover those funds,” said Sen. Candelaria. “I believe it is in the best interest of New Mexicans for both of these state offices to explore whether this act could be used as a tool in the ongoing investigation to recover this money for the benefit of the land grant and the taxpayers of New Mexico.”
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