A 45-year-old former Colfax County Sheriff’s Deputy has been hit with a superseding indictment, adding new charges of theft of government property to an existing cocaine trafficking offense.
Vidal Sandoval, of Cimarron, New Mexico, was initially charged with aiding and abetting an attempt to possess cocaine with intent to distribute in Colfax County, New Mexico.
The superseding indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Albuquerque, adds two counts of theft of government property, alleging that Sandoval stole money from undercover FBI agents on December 15, 2014, and January 25, 2015.
According to affidavits submitted in support of court-approved search warrants, Sandoval allegedly stole $7,500 from the undercover agents during a traffic stop on December 15, 2014, and $2,000 on January 25, 2015.
Sandoval, who was a deputy at the Colfax County Sheriff’s Office at the time of the offenses, resigned following his arrest on March 13, 2015.
If convicted on the drug trafficking charge, Sandoval faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The theft of government property charges carry a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison on each count.
Sandoval was released from custody on conditions of release, including pretrial supervision, pending trial, which is currently scheduled for June 15, 2015. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Santa Fe and Albuquerque offices of the FBI and the New Mexico State Police, with assistance from the Colfax County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Sullivan is prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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