El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputies raid Socorro City Hall

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office conducted a raid on Socorro City Hall Monday that, according to an EPSO spokeswoman, is part of a criminal investigation.

Around 8:30 p.m. Sheriff’s officials emerged from City Hall carting out boxes of documents.

An EPSO spokeswoman said that authorities also confiscated a computer from City Representative Jesse Gandara Junior’s home on Monday. She confirmed the raid on city hall was connected to the seizure at Gandara Jr.’s home, but could not elaborate further.

Socorro Mayor Trini Lopez confirmed that Gandara Jr. was under investigation along with other city officials. Lopez would not name other subjects of investigation, but said that both he and City Representative Maria Reyes were not included in EPSO’s investigation.

“(Investigators) are looking for some information regarding expenses and expenditures from council members over the years,” said Lopez. “They’re (also) looking for some information in regards to a carpool vehicle used by elected officials.”

ABC-7 was unable to contact Gandara Jr. for comment after several attempts to reach him on the phone and at his residence.