THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE TAOS COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY IS FACING UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON. 42 YEAR OLD CARMELLA MARTINEZ AND HER HUSBAND PAUL MARTINEZ ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA TO ONE COUNT OF CONSPIRACY. THEY ADMITTED TO DEFRAUDING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY ISSUING FALSE HOUSING ASSISTANCE CHECKS THEN CASHING THEM. CARMELLA MARTINEZ RAN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FROM 2000 TILL 2011. THEY COULD ALSO BE FINED UP TO A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS AND PAY RESTITUTION OF OVER 786-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
