State Auditor: Group used money for alcohol, trips, instead of senior meals

A group used federal and state taxpayer dollars to fund expensive trips and alcohol instead of meals for seniors in the state, according to the New Mexico State Auditor’s office.

“All you have to do is look around this room,” State Auditor Wayne Johnson told ABC-7 while he was visiting the Munson Center in Las Cruces. “It affects every senior in this center.”

According to his office, the Non-Metro Agency on Aging misused $118,000 across the state. He said senior centers in Doña Ana County lost $45,000.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable,” Johnson said. “Think about the number of meals that weren’t served because of the misuse of funds.”

According to the office, the spending was not “necessarily criminal,” but the auditor did say the group made very questionable decisions with spending.

“Alcohol was part of this,” Johnson said. “They were buying complete meals and alcohol and very expensive parties.”

The group spent close to $2,000 at Main Event in Albuquerque, which has bowling, laser tag and billiards.

“These are state dollars and federal dollars,” Johnson said. “Neither of which allow for that type of spending.”

The federal Office of the Inspector General for the Health and Human Services Department is reviewing the spending, his office said.