DEPT. OF JUSTICE NEWS RELEASE

Special Agents from the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) ensured the arrest of Roshelle Ruffin, who was apprehended by authorities in Texas, and charged with 25 counts of Fraud. Ruffin allegedly stole nearly $70,000 from her employer, Krumland Auto Group, which includes several automotive dealers in Roswell. She is accused of using her unrestricted access to the company’s accounting software to cancel, recode and issue checks to herself, family and friends in the amount of $66,296.06. If convicted on all counts, the charges carry a combined penalty of 58.5 years in prison. 

“This arrest should be a powerful warning to those committing fraud in our State – our office will find you and prosecute you,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Those who seek to steal from hard-working New Mexicans and defraud them out of money – in this case tens of thousands of dollars – deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.” 

The NMDOJ’s Financial Crimes Unit received a tip through the NMDOJ’s complaint portal alleging fraud at Roswell Ford and Roswell Nissan. A thorough investigation revealed that Ruffin, who had significant accounting responsibilities as an Office Manager, was cancelling, recoding and reissuing checks intended for dealership customers or vendors and routing them to herself, family and friends. The investigation further revealed a scheme in which the payments sent to friends and family were then sent back to Ruffin via Zelle. The investigation uncovered 25 payments, ranging from $600 to almost $5,000 each. 

Ruffin was booked by Texas authorities and will be extradited back to New Mexico to face the charges against her. The warrant for her arrest is attached, as well as the criminal complaint, which outlines the charges and includes transaction details. 

The NMDOJ’s Financial Crimes Unit, under the Special Investigations Bureau, investigates allegations of financial misconduct in New Mexico.