Vigil to petition Supreme Court after appeal rejected

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld former state Treasurer Robert Vigil’s conviction on a felony count of attempted extortion in the scandal the rocked New Mexico and led to prison time for two former treasurers.

You can read the opinion from the appeals court in Denver by clicking here.

Vigil’s attorney, Sam Bregman, told the Associated Press and 770 KKOB-AM in Albuquerque that he will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“There’s plenty of fight left, and we will continue to fight this legal issue because we believe we’re right,” the Associated Press quoted Bregman as saying. “We’re still very firm in our belief that Robert Vigil committed no crime for which he was convicted.”

Vigil was convicted in September 2006 on one count of attempted extortion but acquitted on 23 other felony charges. He started serving a 37-month prison sentence in April 2007. His predecessor, Michael Montoya, is currently serving a 40-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of racketeering in the massive case.