NM man pleads guilty to securities fraud, ID theft

Accountant accused of defrauding 2 NM businesses pleads guilty to securities fraud, ID theft

Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- An accountant accused of defrauding two New Mexico businesses has pleaded guilty to securities fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Prosecutors say 31-year-old Roger L. Baeza, of Jal, entered into a plea agreement Tuesday.

He was indicted on 81 counts in October 2012.

The indictment alleged that Baeza embezzled more than $500,000 from two Jal-based businesses between June 2010 and February 2012.

At the time, Baeza was employed as the in-house accountant by the owners of the two businesses.

Prosecutors say Baeza is facing up to 10 years in in prison on each of the 78 securities fraud and access device fraud charges and a two-year term on the aggravated identity fraud charge.

At his yet-to-be-scheduled sentencing, prosecutors say Baeza also will be ordered to pay more than $501,000 in restitution.