New Mexico shoppers looking for a good deal this holiday season should be aware of scams designed by criminals to steal money and personal information.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, in 2019 New Mexicans lost a total of almost $18 million due to a variety of scams, ranging from non-delivery of things people paid for to phishing and identity theft.

“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than ever are expected to shop online this year,” James Langenberg, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque FBI Division, said. “Unfortunately, that means more potential victims of holiday scams. The FBI urges consumers to be vigilant and protect themselves...

BUSTED FOR MUSHROOMS, WEED

Fort Wingate, Dec. 7

A black Mitsubishi Galant traveled east on I-40 near the 28 mile marker. It passed through the construction zone followed by McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Johnson Lee, who observed it traveling 63 mph in a 55-mph zone. Once both vehicles exited the construction lane, Lee activated his emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop.

Lee met the driver, Cody Castillo, 25, of Lubbock, Tex., and asked him to exit the vehicle. As he did, Lee noted a strong smell of raw marijuana. Castillo was shaking and holding a drink as he told Lee he was going home to Texas from Las Vegas, Nev. Castillo denied having any marijuana in his vehicle...

Leora Billie

Nov. 22, 2:44 pm

DWI

On Nov. 22, Deputy Terence Willie pulled over a black Dodge Avenger, which the officer observed had a front passenger not wearing a seat belt when the vehicle approached a stop sign at an intersection.

The driver, Leora Billie, 41, Ganado, Ariz., was reported to have “bloodshot watery eyes” and could not locate a driver’s license or proof of insurance when asked.

Willie also found two passengers in the backseat of the vehicle passed out, with one of them holding vodka in his hand. A few minutes later, the deputy found three closed pints of Importer’s vodka on the driver’s side floorboard. Billie later told the deputy how much alcohol she...

The McKinley County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest affidavit for a Gallup man accused of evading law enforcement at a traffic stop before dangerously speeding through intersections and parts of the city.

Michael Charley managed to avoid seeing officers again on the night of Nov. 26, after they conducted a traffic stop and advised him he would receive a warning citation for speeding on Highway 602.

Still, using the identification card Charley had provided authorities, Deputy Terence Willie was able to submit the affidavit for numerous charges, including: aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, no registration, no insurance, failure to stop at a red light...