NEWS
A recent history of New Mexico legislators convicted of public corruption offenses
Here's a look at the most notable convictions
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SANTA FE 鈥� Former New Mexico House Democratic floor leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton鈥檚 conviction on charges she enriched herself by diverting state and federal education funds marks the latest in a string of public corruption cases involving state legislators.
While lawmakers are protected by legislative immunity for official acts and votes they take while in office, they are not protected from charges of criminal wrongdoing.
Here are some other high-profile corruption cases involving New Mexico lawmakers:
Manny Aragon 鈥� The former New Mexico Senate president pro tem, Aragon pleaded guilty in 2008 to conspiracy and mail fraud in connection with a kickback scheme. Specifically, prosecutors alleged he and other defendants defrauded the state of roughly $4.4 million intended for construction of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse.
An Albuquerque Democrat, Aragon ultimately served about 4 1/2 years in federal prison and was ordered to pay additional fines and restitution. He was released from prison in 2013.
Phil Griego 鈥� The son of a Santa Fe grocery store owner and local politician, Griego rose to become a state senator and influential Democratic committee chairman. But he resigned abruptly in 2015 under the cloud of an ethics investigation into the sale of a historic state building that he helped broker.
Despite professing his innocence, Griego was convicted by a Santa Fe jury in November 2017 of bribery, fraud and unlawful interest in a public contract. He was eventually sentenced to 18 months in state prison. Griego died in January at age 78.
Ron Olguin 鈥� The former state representative from Albuquerque was convicted in 1992 of soliciting a $15,000 bribe in exchange for securing a legislative appropriation for a crime counseling program.
Before being convicted, he was censured by the Legislature but not expelled. Olguin was eventually sentenced to 18 months in state prison.
Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.
