Albuquerque Police detectives discovered what they assume could also be illegally obtained marketing campaign contributions whereas investigating Solomon Peña and the shootings he allegedly masterminded.
“APD detectives discovered by way of witness interviews associated to the capturing investigation that Peña recognized people to funnel contributions from an unknown supply to his legislative marketing campaign,” an APD information launch states. “Detectives are working with different legislation enforcement companies to find out whether or not the cash for the marketing campaign contributions was generated from narcotics trafficking and whether or not marketing campaign legal guidelines have been violated.”
Marketing campaign funds are regulated underneath the Marketing campaign Reporting Act, or CRA, which is underneath the State Ethics Fee’s purview.
“Presently, our workplace is reviewing the matter for CRA violations,” State Ethics Fee spokeswoman Suha Musa stated through e-mail. “If the Fee takes motion on this matter, it’ll achieve this at a public assembly.”
The Marketing campaign Reporting Act dictates how marketing campaign funding can be utilized.
Peña, a Republican, ran towards Democratic incumbent Rep. Miguel Garcia in Home District 14.
Peña obtained simply 26 % of the vote to Garcia’s 74 % of the vote.
Forward of the final election, Garcia filed swimsuit to have Peña faraway from the poll since Peña was a convicted felon. His felony convictions have been for burglaries in 2006 and 2007. Peña served 9 years in jail for his crimes.
Peña allegedly employed 4 males to shoot on the Democrat’s houses and allegedly participated himself in one of many shootings. One of many suspects within the shootings, Jose Trujillo donated $5,150 to Peña’s marketing campaign whereas Trujillo’s mom, Melanie Griego, gave $4,000 to Peña’s marketing campaign.
These contributions are nearly half of the $23,659 Peña obtained for his marketing campaign, in response to marketing campaign finance stories.
The shootings Peña allegedly masterminded befell on the houses of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, then-Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley, state Sen. Linda Lopez and state Rep. Javier Martinez. State Sen. Anthony “Moe” Maestas’ legislation workplace and Lawyer Basic Raúl Torrez’s marketing campaign headquarters additionally reported shootings. Police haven’t linked these shootings to the opposite 4.
Peña is charged on 15 counts associated to the shootings at 4 Albuquerque Democrats’ houses in December and early January.
Peña is charged on 4 counts every of capturing at a dwelling or occupied constructing, capturing at or from a motorized vehicle and conspiracy to shoot at a dwelling or occupied constructing. He was additionally charged with receipt, transportation or possession of a firearm or damaging system by sure individuals, try and commit a felony, to wit: aggravated assault with a lethal weapon and legal solicitation to commit capturing at a dwelling or occupied constructing.
Trujillo was arrested on a Bernalillo County felony warrant shortly after the capturing at Lopez’ southwest Albuquerque house.
The arresting deputy discovered two firearms, a number of ammunition magazines, 893 tablets suspected to be fentanyl in small baggies and $3,036 in money, an APD information launch states.
One of many weapons discovered was related to the Lopez capturing.
“The deputy concluded that the weapons, medicine and money have been in keeping with dealing narcotics,” the APD information launch states. “Trujillo was booked on Jan. 3 for his excellent warrant, in addition to a brand new cost of trafficking in narcotics.”
Peña has a detention listening to at 10:20 a.m. on Jan. 23 in entrance of District 2 Choose Brett Loveless.