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Monday Evening Roundup

Audit: NM Mental Health Companies In Possible Fraud Associated Press

A new state audit says that 15 providers of mental health and substance abuse services failed to meet standards, overbilled the federal government by tens of millions of dollars, and may have taken part in other fraudulent activity.Today the New Mexico Human Services Department, announced the results of the audit, and said Medicaid payments would stop immediately to all to those 15 providers. Results of the audit have been forwarded to the New Mexico Attorney General's Office to investigate. The audit comes as the state battles some of the nation's highest suicide and drug abuse rates.

 

Jury Convicts NM Man In Thwarted Kidnapping Case- Associated Press

The man accused of kidnapping a 6-year-old Albuquerque girl in 2011 has been convicted in the case. Prosecutors say jurors found 31-year-old Phillip Garcia guilty Monday on all counts including child abuse, kidnapping, tampering with evidence, leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving. They say Garcia faces a mandatory sentence of at least 18 years in prison when he's sentenced Aug. 15. Authorities say Garcia grabbed the girl as she walked home from a neighbor's house in a southwest Albuquerque mobile home park in 2011. A man in the neighborhood saw it happen and chased Garcia's van until it crashed into a mesa as the van was heading into the desert. The suspect ran away and the girl was rescued. Authorities say Garcia was later arrested and charged.