The district judge in Cibola County sentenced Adrian and Henrietta Romero to 10 years each in prison, fines and probation in an outfitting scame which lasted two years. The two, who owned Non-Typical Outfitters, printed bogus big game hunting tags for their unsuspecting clients. Some 28 clients spread all over the United States were unwittingly caught up in the scam and as part of the criminal sentence, the Romeros are ordered to pay restitution to all of the clients. The Romeros were conducting these illegal hunts between 2002, 2003 and 2004 when they were busted. The New Mexico Deprtment of Game and Fish and the New Mexico Department of Revenue and Taxation spent one and one-half years investigating the deal. In January 2006 the Romero's were indicted on 66 counts and in October 2006, they each pleaded guilty. The guilty pleas came in a plea bargain arrangement which reduced the number of crimes from 66 to 10 each. The 10 crimes included racketeering, forgery, tax evasion and embezzlement. It took almost a year before the court system sentenced the pair. On Sept. 21, the district court judge sentenced each to 10 years in prison, five years of probation after prison, to pay restitution to all 28 hunters and to pay the state the taxes the two owe. More than likely the pair will have to spend two of the 10 years in prison. It shocked me to actually see someone get prison time.I just wish they had to spend all 10 years in prison. Tom P
