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Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Grand Jury Indicts Jerome Block Jr. and Sr. on Felony Counts
By Raam Wong
Journal Northern Bureau
SANTA FE — Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block Jr. and his father, Jerome Block Sr. — himself a former commissioner — were indicted by a grand jury Wednesday morning on numerous felony counts, according to the state Attorney General's Office.
The charges stem from alleged campaign finance violations during Block Jr's. successful bid last year for the powerful state commission. The eight felony counts against Block Jr. include embezzlement, violation of the election code, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to tamper with evidence.
Block Sr. — who served for many years on the PRC and its predecessor commission — is charged with violations of election laws, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence.
Last November, Block won the northern New Mexico District 3 seat on the regulatory board, despite multiple civil and criminal investigations concerning campaign finance irregularities.
During the campaign, Block reported paying a country/western band — Wyld Country —- for a campaign rally performance that he later admitted never took place. One of the band's members was then-San Miguel County Clerk Paul Maez, that county's top election official. Maez now works as the county's elections supervisor, and Wyld Country has broken up.
Block's campaign received more than $100,000 in taxpayer money that came with rules on how the money could be spent. PRC candidates get public money for their campaigns under a law intended to reduce the political influence of industries regulated by the commission, including gas, electric and water utilities.
Block admitted that Wyld Country hadn't performed for his campaign only after two other members of the band told newspapers that they had never played for a Block event.
Block paid a fine and refunded $10,000 in campaign funds to the Secretary of State for the violation. He was also fined for a $700 contribution he made to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in August. Secretary Herrera called the use of public funds to help a candidate retire her campaign debt a "clear violation" of the law.
The office of Attorney General Gary King declined to comment on the indictments. "We prefer to do our talking in court," spokesman Phil Sisneros said.
The Blocks could not be reached for comment.
The indictments were filed in state District Court in Santa Fe around noon today. The cover page of the indictments seems to indicate the grand jury in fact found "no probable cause" for any of the charges. However, Sisneros said that appears to be an error and that both men were indicted on all the charges.
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