Former lawmaker indicted

Freedom New Mexico

A former Clovis state representative is among four men indicted Friday, accused of fraud in the case of an Albuquerque-based housing authority that defaulted on $5 million in bonds sold to the state.

Vincent “Smiley” Gallegos, former director of the Region III Housing Authority, faces 12 felony counts including fraud, embezzlement and money laundering. He faces up to 72 1/2 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Also charged were former Region III bond accountant Dennis M. Kennedy, bond attorney Robert Strumor and employee David N. Hernandez.

According to indictments filed in the Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque, Region III purchased lots in Las Cruces in October 2004 for $138,678.

But three months later, the authority loaned