ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A former sheriff’s deputy in New Mexico’s Colfax County charged last month with drug trafficking now is facing additional charges.
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment Tuesday charging 45-year-old Vidal Sandoval with two counts of theft of government property.
FBI agents and New Mexico State Police arrested Sandoval on March 13 on an indictment accusing him of protecting people who were transporting cocaine in exchange for a cut of drug profits.
The theft of government charges stem from allegations Sandoval stole money belonging to the FBI in December 2014 and January 2015.
Prosecutors say Sandoval allegedly stole nearly $10,000 from undercover FBI agents who were posing as drug dealers during two traffic stops.
Sandoval resigned following his arrest. He has pleaded not guilty to the drug trafficking charge.
