Former Santa Fe County Sheriff embezzled to feed Gambling Addiction

Police say Solano spent embezzled money on gambling
By Matthew Reichbach

Former Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano may have spent money gained from selling county items on gambling both online and in New Mexico casinos, according to state investigators. KRQE reported this after Solano turned himself into authorities on Wednesday.

Solano resigned in November after admitting to selling items from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office on eBay. He wrote in his resignation letter that he spent the money on a high mortgage.

But the arrest warrant for 251 counts of embezzlement and one count fraud said that Solano spent money at casinos in New Mexico and at online poker sites.

According to KOAT, Solano’s lawyer was “puzzled” by the arrest warrant since Solano has cooperated with investigators.

The Albuquerque Journal reported on Solano’s poker playing back in 2006. Solano wrote about a trip to Las Vegas where he played poker for a chance to play in a World Series of Poker event on his blog that same year. Solano’s blog is now defunct but is still available on Google’s cache.

Solano was released after three hours on $25,000 cash-only bond.