By Vic Vela
Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M — Another member of the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is being investigated for possible wrongdoing.
Former Deputy Solomon Romero resigned recently amid allegations that he embezzled union funds, according to acting Sheriff Robert Garcia.
This revelation comes on the heels of last week’s resignation of Sheriff Greg Solano, who admitted to illegally selling department property for his own gain.
In a separate matter, union president James Yeager told the Journal that Romero, who was vice president of the sheriff’s department’s union, is suspected to have embezzled about $1,700 in union moneys. Yeager said Romero allegedly used $886 to pay his personal cell phone bill, paid for a $135 personal purchase at a Walmart store with a union debit card, and withdrew $700 for himself from the union’s bank account.
“There was definitely some intentional criminal wrongdoing,” Yeager said.
State Police is investigating the allegations, but no charges have been filed at this time, according to State Police Lt. Eric Garcia.
Sheriff Garcia said that Romero resigned about two weeks ago, around the time that an internal affairs investigation was being conducted.
Yeager said that he first learned of Romero’s alleged activities in October. After looking over financial records, “it was really clear to see where these withdraw(al)s came from.”
Yeager said union money is sometimes used to help fellow officers who are having financial difficulty. He said that recently, another deputy had asked Romero for money to pay for his daughter’s medication. Romero said he would get the deputy the money but never did.
After looking into the matter, Yeager said he saw that Romero had withdrawn $700 from the union account - $500 of which was supposed to go to the deputy in need of help - and pocketed all of the money.
Yeager said he considered Romero a friend and is disappointed in his actions. He added that he doesn’t know the circumstances surrounding Romero’s alleged embezzlement but said that if Romero needed help, “stealing money from your own officers isn’t the way to do it.”
Copyright 2010 Albuquerque Journal