Investigation into Dona Ana County Clerk’s Office

recorded this video of authorities entering and searching the clerk’s office yesterday. the group arrested was allegedly collecting and cashing fraudulent tax return checks in exchange for kickbacks. the sheriff’s office was tipped off in may. the arrests of those seven people … including four employees of the dona ana county clerk’s office have shocked dona ana county. new at five … our new mexico mobile newsroom has learned the check cashing scheme may have put the confidential information of some residents at risk. abc-7’s jamie warren is live in the newsroom with reaction you’ll see only on abc-7. jamie? rick… the potential mishandling of confidential information has emerged as a focus of the investigation. county clerk lynn ellins says his office personnel are in mourning. “i have a bunch of hardworkin motivated people in this office who are dedicated to public service and doing what’s best for the people in this county. there’s a great great feeling of despair because our reputation has been dispersed due to the reckless activity of people we thought we could trust and i really feel bad for my staff” ellins says his staff was shocked by yesterday’s arrests. the employees are accused of notarizing documents to facilitate cashing fraudulent checks. he says he’s always relied on the honesty of his employees. ellins has been the county clerk for the past ten years. he says this is the first ever allegation of breached security in his office. he says neither he nor his chief deputy knew anything about the scam and are cooperating fully with authorities. he added that the four employees have been placed on temporary paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. .. in the newsroom, jamie warren, abc-7. thank you jamie … we’d like to welcome you to the abc-7 team. tell our viewers about yourself. the newly elected president of fifa has stepped down. “fifa needs a profoun restructuring.”