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Who's who in the long-anticipated federal fraud case

Raul Parra

Parra is an electrical engineer and former business partner in the now-dormant P2RS Group Inc. and Technologies West Limited.

The indictments say he received inflated bids from his wife and a business associate who acted as subcontractors for audio and visual equipment. He then gave them to Metro Court Administrator Toby Martinez and received a portion of the excess money.

In 2002, Parra's former partner, Harvey Peel, sued Parra and others, claiming they were involved in racketeering activities, including illegal kickbacks.

He received about $773,000, prosecutors say.

Marc E. Schiff

Schiff is president of DCSW Architects, the architecture firm that designed Metro Court, as well as the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum and other projects.

The indictments say he approved the inflated bids forwarded to him and his firm by Metro Court Administrator Toby Martinez and paid money to lobbyist and former Albuquerque Mayor Ken Schultz and political powerhouse Manny Aragon.

He received $400,000 to $1 million, prosecutors say.

When the courthouse opened in 2004, Schiff said, "This new building is all about order, symmetry, dignity and service to the public."

Manny Aragon

Aragon is a lawyer in private practice who retired from the Senate in 2004 to take the presidency of New Mexico Highlands University. Under pressure from university regents and faculty, he took a $200,000 buyout to leave in 2006.

The indictments say he used his position as Senate president and Finance Committee chairman to secure taxpayer money for Metro Court construction costs, including the purportedly fraudulent costs, in exchange for a portion of the illegal gains.

He received $700,000, prosecutors say.

Aragon served as Senate president and Finance Committee boss during his 30-year career in the Legislature, where he represented the South Valley.

Toby Martinez

Martinez was the Metro Court administrator during the courthouse construction and signed off on all bids submitted during the project.

The indictments say he knowingly approved inflated bids from companies run by Raul Parra and Manuel Guara.

He and his wife received $2.05 million, prosecutors say.

Martinez, who was fired as Metro Court administrator in June 2003 after being indicted on felony domestic violence charges - the charges later were dropped on a technicality - worked from April 2005 until January of 2006 at the state Department of Transportation as general manager for special projects.

Ken Schultz

Schultz is a lobbyist for seven groups, including Comcast Cablevision of New Mexico. During the courthouse construction, he was hired as a lobbyist by DCSW Architects, which designed the building.

The indictments say he received payment from DCSW for influence in receiving state funds for court construction.

He received about $50,000, prosecutors say.

Schultz was Albuquerque mayor from 1985-89 and a former car dealer.

Manuel Guara

Guara worked for the electrical consulting and contracting company P2RS, later serving on its corporate board.

The indictments say he inflated bids on technology installations as a subcontractor with Raul Parra's company, P2RS, and received kick-backs.

In a separate lawsuit from a former stockholder and P2RS owner, the company is accused of participating in kickbacks on construction of the state District Courthouse by charging for phantom services performed by communication system subcontractors.

He received $100,000, prosecutors say.

Sandra Martinez

Martinez, wife of Toby Martinez also known as Sandra Mata, was president of Smart Solutions, a company providing information software consulting that was based in her home.

The indictments say she created a company to funnel payments to her and her husband.

She and her husband received $2.05 million, prosecutors say.