Fed judge sentences former NM senator Manny Aragon to 5½ years in prison, orders fine
Former New Mexico state Senate leader Manny Aragon broke down in tears before being sentenced Tuesday to 5½ years in prison for his role in a corruption case that stained his long career of public service.
By HEATHER CLARK
Associated Press Writer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Former New Mexico state Senate leader Manny Aragon broke down in tears
before being sentenced Tuesday to 5½ years in prison for his role in a corruption case that stained his long career of public service.
Aragon, an Albuquerque Democrat who served in the Senate for 29 years and was once one of New Mexico's most powerful politicians, also was fined $750,000 — the bulk of which he already has forfeited to the government — and ordered to pay at least $649,000 in restitution.
Aragon last year pleaded guilty to three federal felony counts of conspiracy and mail fraud in a scheme to defraud the state of nearly $4.4 million in the construction of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse in Albuquerque.
Aragon faced U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson and gave a rambling 20-minute speech about his early years and his life in politics. The speech ended when he broke down from emotion while talking about the "punishment" of losing his jobs as Senate president and as president of New Mexico Highlands University.
Aragon expressed sorrow for two of his co-defendants, engineer Raul Parra and architect Marc Schiff, who had to be "put through such ridicule," and for the people of New Mexico.
"I apologized to you and to them (New Mexicans) in my letter, and I do this again," he told Johnson, referring to a letter of apology he sent the court.
Neither Aragon nor his attorneys commented to reporters after the hearing.
U.S. Attorney Greg Fouratt declared after Tuesday's hearing that "the era of picking the taxpayers' pockets is over."
Fouratt said his office was pleased with Aragon's sentence because it sends a message to public officials that corruption in New Mexico will be punished.
"Don't turn taxpayers' wallets into your personal piggy banks because you're going to get caught," he said.
Former New Mexico state Senate leader Manny Aragon broke down in tears before being sentenced Tuesday to 5½ years in prison for his role in a corruption case that stained his long career of public service.
By HEATHER CLARK
Associated Press Writer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Former New Mexico state Senate leader Manny Aragon broke down in tears
before being sentenced Tuesday to 5½ years in prison for his role in a corruption case that stained his long career of public service.Aragon, an Albuquerque Democrat who served in the Senate for 29 years and was once one of New Mexico's most powerful politicians, also was fined $750,000 — the bulk of which he already has forfeited to the government — and ordered to pay at least $649,000 in restitution.
Aragon last year pleaded guilty to three federal felony counts of conspiracy and mail fraud in a scheme to defraud the state of nearly $4.4 million in the construction of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse in Albuquerque.
Aragon faced U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson and gave a rambling 20-minute speech about his early years and his life in politics. The speech ended when he broke down from emotion while talking about the "punishment" of losing his jobs as Senate president and as president of New Mexico Highlands University.
Aragon expressed sorrow for two of his co-defendants, engineer Raul Parra and architect Marc Schiff, who had to be "put through such ridicule," and for the people of New Mexico.
"I apologized to you and to them (New Mexicans) in my letter, and I do this again," he told Johnson, referring to a letter of apology he sent the court.
Neither Aragon nor his attorneys commented to reporters after the hearing.
U.S. Attorney Greg Fouratt declared after Tuesday's hearing that "the era of picking the taxpayers' pockets is over."
Fouratt said his office was pleased with Aragon's sentence because it sends a message to public officials that corruption in New Mexico will be punished.
"Don't turn taxpayers' wallets into your personal piggy banks because you're going to get caught," he said.
