Las Cruces Man Arrested, Accused Of Selling Ex-Wife’s Home Without Permission

A man suspected of forging his ex-wife’s signature to sell her home without her permission or knowledge has been arrested, according to officials with the Las Cruces Police Department.

Reuben James Armijo, 37, was arrested on Friday and has been charged with four felonies, including two counts of forgery and one count each of perjury and fraud.

Detectives learned that Armijo and the woman were married nearly six years and divorced in July, 2000. They owned a home on the 1400 block of Boston Drive. The woman was awarded ownership of that home in the divorce settlement but allowed Armijo to live there and pay rent.

The perjury charge stems from an August 2010 court appearance where Armijo testified under oath that his ex-wife signed a deed on the home. The ex-wife claims she was in West Virginia on the date the quitclaim deed was signed. Detectives learned that Armijo asked a cousin in Colorado to notarize the forged quitclaim deed, which Armijo testified was authentic during court proceedings.

Officials said Armijo’s ex-wife learned that her home was for sale earlier this year. She tried to contact the Realtor who listed the home but received no response. The woman later learned the home had been sold in December 2010 for $80,000. Armijo made $45,000 from the sale of the property, officials said.

After Armijo’s arrest, he was taken to the Dona Ana County Detention Center with a bail set at $40,000.