Act Daily News
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New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez’ workplace is taking the lead in probing the marketing campaign funds of Solomon Peña, who police say was behind a spate of shootings at Democratic officers’ houses.
The transfer comes after Albuquerque police mentioned they had been investigating whether or not Peña’s marketing campaign was funded partially by money from narcotics gross sales that had been laundered into marketing campaign contributions.
“We have formally opened an investigation into the campaign finances,” Lauren Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the legal professional common’s workplace, instructed Act Daily News.
Peña, a Republican and vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump who misplaced a state House race in 2022, is accused of hiring and conspiring with 4 males to shoot on the houses of two state legislators and two county commissioners.
He was arrested Monday and is because of seem in district court docket on January 23 for a listening to that can decide whether or not he’s detained or launched with situations.
The Albuquerque Police Department mentioned in an announcement that investigators consider Peña “identified individuals to funnel contributions from an unknown source to his legislative campaign.”
“Detectives are working with other law enforcement agencies to determine whether the money for the campaign contributions was generated from narcotics trafficking, and whether campaign laws were violated,” the division mentioned within the assertion.
Campaign finance information present the only largest contributor to Peña’s marketing campaign was José Trujillo, a person who police say Peña recruited to be a part of the staff of shooters.
Police say Trujillo, who donated $5,155 to Peña’s failed marketing campaign and listed his occupation as “cashier,” was arrested on January 3 – the night time of the final of 4 shootings – on an impressive felony warrant.
A Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputy discovered Trujillo with greater than $3,000 in money, almost 900 narcotics drugs value roughly $15,000 and two weapons, one in every of which was ballistically matched to that day’s taking pictures, police mentioned. He was stopped driving Peña’s automotive, mentioned a regulation enforcement official who spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of the investigation is ongoing.
Albuquerque investigators are centered on Trujillo’s giant marketing campaign contributions and whether or not they might need come from drug cash, as a result of investigators say Trujillo has no identified reliable supply of revenue and was arrested with medicine and cash, the regulation enforcement official mentioned. In an assault case wherein Trujillo was the sufferer final fall, police information say Trujillo instructed police he was between houses on the time.
“You have a suspected gunman who claims to be homeless with $3,000 dollars in cash and a bag of drugs making big donations to a campaign. You have to ask yourself where that money is coming from,” mentioned the regulation enforcement official who spoke on the situation of anonymity.
Trujillo’s mom, Melanie Griego, donated $4,000, in line with marketing campaign finance information. But Griego staunchly denied making any marketing campaign contributions in an interview with the Albuquerque Journal, telling the newspaper she lives on a “monthly income” and doesn’t have 1000’s of {dollars} to put money into a political marketing campaign.
Act Daily News reached out to Peña’s and Trujillo’s legal professional however didn’t instantly obtain a response.
A prison criticism within the court docket case in opposition to Peña says that Trujillo, his father Demetrio and his two brothers conspired with the failed Republican candidate to shoot up the houses of 4 politicians. The 4 haven’t been charged, however extra expenses are anticipated within the case.
A regulation enforcement supply mentioned Peña met members of the taking pictures staff he allegedly recruited when he was in jail serving time for his function in a smash-and-grab staff that specialised in stealing automobiles and driving them by way of the home windows of huge field shops to steal high-end electronics.
Peña needed to get hold of state court docket approval to run for workplace as a convicted felon. The state court docket concluded that underneath present New Mexico regulation, Peña was eligible to run as a result of he had served his sentence and accomplished his parole.
Gunshots had been fired into the houses of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa on December 4; incoming state House Speaker Javier Martinez on December 8; then-Bernalillo Commissioner Debbie O’Malley on December 11; and state Sen. Linda Lopez on January 3, in line with police.
Peña misplaced his race to Democratic state Rep. Miguel Garcia 26% to 74%. Per week later, he tweeted he “never conceded” the race and was researching his choices.
Barboa mentioned, after November’s election however earlier than the shootings, that Peña – who had embraced Trump’s claims of widespread election fraud on social media – had approached some officers at their houses with paperwork he claimed was proof of election fraud.
“He came to my house after the election. … He was saying that the elections were fake … really speaking erratically. I didn’t feel threatened at the time, but I did feel like he was erratic,” Barboa instructed “Act Daily News This Morning” on Tuesday.
Act Daily News has reached out to Peña’s marketing campaign web site for remark. On Wednesday, his legal professional, Roberta Yurcic, mentioned in an electronic mail that the allegations in opposition to him are “merely accusations.”
“Mr. Peña is presumed innocent of the charges against him,” Yurcic mentioned. “Mr. Peña and I look forward to a full and fair investigation of these claims. I plan to fully defend Mr. Peña and fiercely safeguard his rights throughout this process.”