Las Cruces PD Arrests City Fleet Management Section Employees

The City of Las Cruces, N.M.’s police department arrested three current employees from the City’s fleet management section, and one former employee, for allegedly falsifying fleet management documents.

According to statements from the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD), Albert Favela, 45, Edward L. Tellez, 46, Inez Frank Giron, 34, and Christopher J. Bustamante, 45, are charged with forgery as part of an investigation that has been ongoing for several months.

Favela, a former supervisor in the fleet management section, is charged with four counts each of embezzlement and forgery. Giron and Tellez are each charged with two counts of forgery, and Bustamante is charged with one count of forgery, according to LCPD.

LCPD alleged that Favela asked employees to falsify work orders as part of a scheme to bill the city for parts that were purchased but never installed on City vehicles. The police department said its investigation showed that some of the parts were purchased for vehicles the city doesn’t own. According to the LCPD's statement, Favela allegedly used some of the parts billed to the City for mechanical work done outside the scope of his job.

LCPD said its detectives are continuing their investigation and that the current employees, and former employee, could face additional charges.