A FORMER CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ CHANGES HIS PLEA. JAMIE ESTRADA WAS IN FEDERAL COURT MONDAY AS PART OF A PLEA DEAL WITH THE U-S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN ALBUQUERQUE. U-S ATTORNEY DAMON MARTINEZ SAYS ESTRADA ADMITTED TO INTERCEPTING EMAILS DIRECTED TO THE MARTINEZ CAMPAIGN. HE ALSO PLED GUILTY TO LYING TO INVESTIGATORS.
MARTINEZ SAYS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CASE IS THAT IT SHOWS IT'S WRONG TO INTERFERE OR REDIRECT AN EMAIL, BASICALLY VIOLATING THE LAW.
ESTRADA HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN CHARGED IN A 14 COUNT INDICTMENT BACK IN MAY OF LAST YEAR. AS PART OF THE PLEA DEAL HE COULD STAY BEHIND BARS FOR UP TO A YEAR AND A DAY. ESTRADA SERVED AS THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR A SHORT TIME IN 2009.
