Courts

FBI: Albq. Man Pleads Guilty To Murder Of Letter Carrier

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Melisa Llosa, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), announced Wednesday that Xavier Zamora pleaded guilty to second degree murder of an employee of the United States and using a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death.

Zamora, 20, of Albuquerque will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, April 22, 2019, Jose Hernandez, a United States Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Upholds Life Imprisonment For Nehemiah Griego Who Killed Family When 15 Years Old

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court Thursday affirmed the prison sentence of Nehemiah Griego for fatally shooting his parents and three younger siblings at the family’s Albuquerque home in 2013 when he was 15 years old.

Griego was sentenced to three concurrent life sentences – with the possibility of parole after serving 30 years – for convictions of intentional child abuse resulting in death and two concurrent seven-year sentences for second-degree murder for killing his parents.

A district court judge found Griego not amendable to treatment as a juvenile Read More

FBI: Shiprock Man Arraigned For Conspiracy And Assault

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Raydell Billy, 31, of Shiprock, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arraigned in federal court Friday on a two-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm.

Billy will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

A grand jury indicted Raydell Billy and co-defendants Raynorma Billy and Alvin White May 24. According to the indictment and other court records, April 11, Raynorma allegedly drove Raydell and White to a residence at Read More

Judicial Clerkship Summer Externship Program Underway

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2022 Judicial Clerkship Program kick-off at the New Mexico Supreme Court. Front Row from left: Judicial Clerkship Program (JCP) student Deanna Warren, JCP student Angelica Aragon, Supreme Court Justice Julie J. Vargas, Kateri Eisenberg, JCP students Killean Carter, Kimberly Weston, Barbara Ryan and Emmalee Johnston.  Middle Row from left:  Supreme Court Justice David K. Thomson, Supreme Court Justice Briana H. Zamora, Celina Baca, Alma Buena, Dominic Martinez, Ryan Azar, Emily Worline, Judge Court of Appeals Judge Jane Yohalem, Lana Elledge, and Morgan Pettit, Member Services Read More

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas To Review Fatal Shooting By Chaves County Deputies

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New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas and Fifth Judicial District Attorney Dianna Luce announce that the AG’s office will review the shooting death of David Aguilera.

DA Luce sent a letter to AG Balderas June 15, asking him to take over the case due to a conflict in her office.

“We accept this referral and this serious matter will receive a full and timely review,” Attorney General Balderas said.

May 27, 2022, near Lake Arthur, two Chaves County deputies responded to a subject behaving erratically. The person was identified Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Clarifies Legal Framework For Allowing Social Media Evidence At Trial

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court Thursday clarified the requirements for allowing social media communications as evidence in New Mexico court proceedings.

In a unanimous opinion, the state’s highest court for the first time addressed a legal question about guidelines governing the admissibility of social media evidence. The justices concluded “the authentication of social media evidence is governed by the traditional authentication standard” in court procedural rules – Rule 11-901 of the Rules of Evidence. 

The current New Mexico rule requires a party in a case to offer Read More

Secretary Of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver On CNN Discusses Lawsuit She Filed Against Otero County Commission For Illegal Actions To Disenfranchise 2022 Primary Election Voters

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Maggie Toulouse Oliver being interviewed this evening by Don Lemon on CNN regarding the lawsuit she filed against Otero County Commission for Illegal actions to disenfranchise 2022 Primary Election voters. Photo/LADP screenshot

From the Office of the Secretary of State:

Secretary of State Releases Statement on Supreme Court Ordering Otero County to Certify Election Results

SANTA FE – Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver was interviewed this evening by Don Lemon on CNN regarding the lawsuit she filed against Otero County Commission for Illegal actions to disenfranchise 2022 Primary

Read More

FBI: Sanostee Man Charged With Second Degree Murder

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced Monday, June 13 that Tyrone Atcitty Nez was charged by criminal complaint with second degree murder in Indian Country.

Nez, 33, of Sanostee, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, made an initial appearance in Federal Court Monday and will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for June 15.

According to the complaint, June 8, Nez allegedly fatally assaulted a man, Read More

New Mexico State Auditor Addresses $13.7 Million Settlement Announcement By Attorney General

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From the Office of the State Auditor:

ALBUQUERQUE – State Auditor Brian Colón today issued the following statement regarding the announcement of a $13.7 million settlement with Centene Corporation by Attorney General Hector Balderas:

“For more than a decade, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) operated in a relatively unregulated environment enabling opportunities to develop abusive billing practices. In 2020 my Office took an innovative approach and launched an investigation into the billing practices by PBMs, together with the assistance of both the Human Services Department and Read More

AG Balderas Announces $13.7 Million Settlement With Centene Corporation Over Investigation Of PBM Claims

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

…Ongoing Investigation of remaining PBMs in New Mexico in Partnership with Superintendent of Insurance 

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced a $13.7 million settlement with Centene Corporation regarding the Attorney General’s investigation of the company’s subsidiaries’ pricing and reporting of pharmacy benefits and services provided to the New Mexico Medicaid program which is overseen by the New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD).  

“Vulnerable New Mexicans Read More