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03-05-2012, 01:20 PM #1
N.M. border city worker arrested in vote fraud probe
NM border city worker arrested in vote fraud probe
The Associated Press
Updated: 10:51 a.m. Monday, March 5, 2012
Published: 9:03 a.m. Monday, March 5, 2012
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. — A troubled New Mexico border city, already rocked by a pending state audit and three arrests related to an extortion case involving a secret lap dance recording of a mayoral candidate, saw another employee arrested Sunday, this time related to a vote fraud probe.
Silvia Gomez, 52, was taken into custody by New Mexico State Police and charged with false voting and conspiracy to commit false voting. According to an arrest warrant, Gomez approached a Texas couple as they were inquiring about a building permit at Sunland Park City Hall in January and asked them to illegally register to vote in Sunland Park.
The arrest comes as a special team headed by New Mexico State Auditor Hector Balderas is scheduled Monday to arrive in Sunland Park to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the city's operations and finances. A spokesman for the Gov. Susana Martinez said the state stands ready to take over the city just west of El Paso if the audit points to signs of misspending or embezzlement of public money.
On Friday, a state district in Las Cruces refused to delay Tuesday's mayoral elections in Sunland Park despite a report from the secretary of state alleging widespread voter fraud.
Secretary of State Dianna Duran said in her report last week that 13 people listed Gomez's address as their own when they registered to vote in the city between Jan. 5 and Feb. 7. Six of them voted early in person or by absentee ballot, according to Duran's report.
Police documents said Gomez, a former Sunland Park city councilor, registered a Texas couple using her Sunland Park address and asked them to vote for mayoral candidate Daniel Salinas.
District Attorney Amy Orlando said Gomez was arrested at a park where Salinas supporters held a rally. As police took her into custody, members of the crowd urged her not to say anything, Orlando said.
Orlando said with the help of Gomez, the Texas couple, who have been registered in El Paso since 1998, voted for Salinas on Feb. 14. She added that the El Paso couple will not face charges and that others facing similar circumstances also would not be charged if they came forward to investigators.
It was unclear if Gomez, who is being held on a $50,000 secured bond, had an attorney.
Salinas and two others face charges related to the extortion investigation targeting another mayoral candidate. The employees are accused of trying to force candidate Gerardo Hernandez from the March 6 election by threatening to publicly release a secret digital video recording of Hernandez getting a lap dance from a topless woman.
Police are also seeking the arrest of the city's public works director on a warrant for tampering with evidence for allegedly urging City Manager Jaime Aguilera to "get rid" of video evidence as State Police approached city hall on Feb. 21.
NM border city worker arrested in vote fraud probeNO AMNESTY
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04-04-2012, 12:23 AM #2
RELATED
Salinas loses chance to be sworn in as mayor of Sunland Park
http://www.alipac.us/f12/voter-fraud...d-park-252377/NO AMNESTY
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