Former TRD Cabinet Secretary Demesia Padilla

From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, Attorney General Balderas announced that jurors in the Thirteenth Judicial District found former Taxation and Revenue Department Cabinet Secretary Demesia Padilla guilty of two felony counts.

Jurors found beyond a reasonable doubt that Padilla stole more than $25,000 from Harold’s Grading and Trucking, a Bernalillo business, while she also was acting as cabinet secretary. Padilla acquired this money by surreptitiously linking her personal credit card to the business’ checking account.

“Small businesses are undoubtedly the lifeblood of New Mexico’s economy and should not be stifled by internal corruption,” Attorney General Balderas said. “We are pleased to secure justice for the significant economic harm to the victims, and we will hold any person in a position of power accountable for unlawful conduct.”

The Court will sentence Padilla at a later date. These cases were both investigated and prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General.