Cuba district investigated for fraud

CUBA, N.M. (KRQE) - State Police have completed their investigation into public corruption at a New Mexico school district and they may have just opened up a can of worms; that includes possible fraud and the embezzlement of nearly $300,000 of taxpayer money.

According to the report compiled by State Police, school buses are at the center of the investigation into fraud and embezzlement at the Cuba School District.  Investigators believe bus contractors with the school district  padded mileage and collected hundred of thousands of dollars in overpayment during the past five years.

The report also shows one of those contractors who is also an auto shop teacher at Cuba High School, had students not mechanics, work on his privately owned school bus.

The police report also claims the first person to tell school board members about the misspent money was district business manager Higinia Cordova. The report states when she brought up the issue to board members in June 2011, her reputation was attacked.

Cordova was fired in October for allegedly having porn on her work computer.

Also in the report, another employee claims that when she questioned the over payments, she told police she was threatened by one of the bus contractors.

No one has been charged in this case. State Police have now turned the investigation over to the District Attorney and the Attorney General who are now reviewing the case.