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Multiple sources indicated today that long-awaited indictments in a major governmental corruption probe are expected this afternoon.

Those sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the indictments had not yet been made public, said a handful of local public officials were expected to be indicted.

Several other people have already agreed to guilty pleas, sources said.

The indictments will bring to a head a federal investigation into the construction of the Metro Courthouse in Albuquerque. That investigation spanned well over a year and has played a role in the congressional inquiry into the firing of former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias.

Several lawyers involved in the case declined to comment or said they would only comment once the indictments are made public.

Officials at Metro Court and the state Auditor's Office confirmed last year that they had turned over documents related to construction contracts to the FBI.

Former Bernalillo County Manager Juan Vigil told The Tribune last year that he was interviewed by the FBI, whose investigators focused their questions on former state Senate President Manny Aragon.

"They had allegations that somebody had given Manny $70,000 to ensure a contractor . . . got the job," Vigil said, adding that Aragon never pressured him in regard to the contracts.

Allegations of corruption in the construction of the state District Courthouse first came to light in a 2002 lawsuit between former partners in several contracting firms.

One of the partners, Harvey Peel, accused the others of paying kickbacks. He testified that the firm Technologies West was paid $160,000 for courthouse work that was never done or was worth far less.

Out of the $160,000, two checks totaling $50,000 were made out to cash. That amount matched a puzzling entry in Technologies West's books, Peel testified. The entry was, "Manny 50,000."

The FBI confirmed last October that it had concluded its investigation in the matter and turned it over to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Iglesias, who was fired in December, testified before Congress this month that U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson and U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, both Albuquerque Republicans, called him about the case ahead of November's election.

Iglesias testified that he believed he was fired because he refused to rush indictments that could have helped Wilson in her hard-fought reelection battle.

Both Wilson and Domenici have denied pressuring Iglesias.