Category: News

Ruiz sentenced on federal drug charges; Murder trial slated for June

Ruiz sentenced on federal drug charges; Murder trial slated for June

From the Las Vegas Optic One of 12 people charged with drug trafficking offenses following raids by federal agents in the summer of 2019 has been sentenced. The federal sentencing allows for Marcos R. Ruiz to go on trial for murder in Las Vegas. During a March 23 hearing in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque,…

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Two suspects sought in trafficking case released from jail days before new charges filed

Two suspects sought in trafficking case released from jail days before new charges filed

From the Las Vegas Optic A man and a woman were released from the San Miguel County Detention Center just days before prosecutors filed new charges against them, records show. Police are now searching for the duo, accusing one of them of trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin. Officers with the Las Vegas Police Department arrested…

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Suspect awaiting trial in death of ‘Skip’ faces new charges

Suspect awaiting trial in death of ‘Skip’ faces new charges

From the Las Vegas Optic The man accused of killing 71-year-old William “Skip” Smith Jr. in the summer of 2019 is facing new charges. Police allege 42-year-old Seig Isaac Chavez (who’s listed as Isaac Seig Chavez in some court documents) hid two weapons and other contraband in his jail cell at the San Miguel County…

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Thousands of cannabis convictions set to vanish, Focus shifts to narcotics traffickers

Thousands of cannabis convictions set to vanish, Focus shifts to narcotics traffickers

From the Las Vegas Optic As New Mexicans 21 or older step into retail shops to legally purchase cannabis for recreational use, tens of thousands of people in the state still have cannabis-related convictions on their records. That’s set to change, though. In April of last year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham enacted new laws that…

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Breaking: Jail guard accused of delivering drugs to inmates

Breaking: Jail guard accused of delivering drugs to inmates

From the Las Vegas Optic A corrections officer with the San Miguel County Detention Center is accused of accepting cash bribes in exchange for bringing packages containing narcotics to jail inmates. Investigators with the Region IV Narcotics Task Force allege that 31-year-old Joseph M. Sena III, used his position as a corrections officer to bring…

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Former LVCS teacher files whistleblower lawsuit

Former LVCS teacher files whistleblower lawsuit

From the Las Vegas Optic A former Las Vegas City Schools teacher and volleyball coach filed a lawsuit last week alleging she was retaliated against and wrongfully terminated after she raised concerns of allegations of harassment of girls by the district’s male coaches. In the lawsuit — filed under New Mexico’s Whistleblower Protection Act —…

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Storrie Lake shooter sentenced for murder; trial pending for alleged second shooter

Storrie Lake shooter sentenced for murder; trial pending for alleged second shooter

From the Las Vegas Optic One of the two men accused of shooting and killing 16-year-old Adelina Tafoya in July 2020 pleaded guilty Monday to multiple felonies as part of a plea agreement. Roger Tait-Gomez, 31, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder during a virtual appearance in District…

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