Ruiz: Remember personal contributions to Santa Fe

Joe Ruiz |

7/20/2008 - 7/20/08

I want to thank The New Mexican for its fair reporting during my trial of the federal indictment charges against me and subsequent sentencing. I am bothered, however, with some of the words that were used in "Ruiz receives 4 years in prison," the article that appeared on July 16.

The statements that I shook down insurance companies, committed theft, picked pockets and solicited contributions to charities are not correct. Those who attended my trial heard the insurance company witnesses say that they were told and understood that they were under no obligation to donate anything. They understood that the contributions were voluntary, and that only the superintendent of insurance could impose, reduce, or waive fines.

The superintendent waived fines to many companies, including some of those who elected not to contribute to a charity. I always told those companies that I did not want them to ever feel that they were being coerced, or threatened. During the trial, many of the companies stated, under oath, that they had made similar charity contributions in other states and, "were happy to do it."

It is unfortunate that there was no mention of the more than a million new dollars in fines and license fees that were sent to the state's general fund because of the initiative that I put in place. They did not mention the additional $200,000 in recurring revenue that is still coming in every year from the more than 6,000 unlicensed agents and adjusters that we caught after I initiated this effort in accordance with New Mexico statutes. If I had not started this program, I would not be in the situation that I now find myself in.

These efforts also averted a class-action lawsuit that was about to be filed against New Mexico and the Public Regulation Commission by some Albuquerque attorneys. I am sure that this would have cost the state millions of dollars. I am sorry that the public was never informed about this. Maybe I should have sat back and done nothing, but my work ethic would not allow me to do that.

As for the two attorneys who allegedly advised me not to have the "charity option," I am sad to say that my recollection is not the same as theirs. I do recall discussing with them the usage of a portion of the monies collected in fines for the creation of an educational fund to use to alert New Mexico consumers of insurance frauds that we were uncovering every month.

Prior to my being sentenced, I had a clean, unblemished record and a long history of community service. Many of your readers will remember my five-year "one man" project to design and raise the money for the construction of the Commemorative Walkway to the Cross of the Martyrs. I have also assisted in raising funds for the St. Vincent Hospital and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi for their remodeling projects. Those who know me well know that I have helped hundreds, if not thousands of people all of my life. I now invite and encourage those who know me or those whom I have helped to write The New Mexican and share their own thoughts.

Former state deputy insurance superintendent Joe Ruiz, of Santa Fe, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to four years in prison, plus fines, for a scheme through which he got insurance firms to donate to charities in lieu of paying fines.