Former state employee files whistleblower lawsuit over alleged misuse of funds

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE) – A former worker for the New Mexico Public College Services Authority is suing the state after he says he was retaliated in opposition to for questioning an enormous finances improve in his division. Jeffrey Eaton oversaw budgets for college initiatives and says he found employees at that Services Authority have been being pressured to exceed the finances for a Los Niños Elementary College mission in Las Vegas, New Mexico, by practically half one million {dollars}. 

“There was no authorized authority to extend the finances for this mission by virtually $500,000.” There was huge political stress to get this performed despite the fact that it broke the legislation and he was fired for not wanting to interrupt the legislation,” mentioned Eaton’s lawyer, Jacob Candelaria.

The Services Authority claims there has by no means been a finances improve for the Los Niños mission, and the mission by no means exceeded its awarded quantity. In addition they say Eaton was by no means fired, however that he resigned. In line with the lawsuit, Eaton alleges the Services Authority pressured him to resign, in retaliation for him blowing the whistle in regards to the illegal improve within the Los Niños finances.

Eaton’s lawyer, Jacob Candelaria, alleges the services authority wished Eaton to say sure to the finances improve, even when it meant breaking the legislation. “His phrase and his integrity matter to him, and so for him, that’s what was on the road. And sadly for him sticking to his integrity and being an individual of integrity, on this case, meant that sadly he bought fired for it,” mentioned Candelaria.

Eaton is in search of damages beneath the Whistleblower Safety Act, double the again pay owed to him, and his reinstatement into his former place. Candelaria says the Services Authority can be receiving formal discover of the lawsuit, and he’ll await a response to start discovery into the allegations.