2 indicted for casino misdeeds

By Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Timothy Barka and Tyra Smith came to Sky City Casino late last year to hit it big, and they did, but not quite how they were expecting.

The two were indicted by the Cibola County Grand Jury on several charges. Barka, 25, of Albuquerque, could find himself behind bars for more than 10 years. Smith, 23, also of Albuquerque, could be sentenced to two years in jail.

Grand jury members heard evidence presented against the two in a Nov. 26, 2004, incident at Sky City Casino and decided indictments were in order for the two.

According to the indictments, Barka allegedly wrote bogus checks twice at the casino, each of which is good enough for a third-degree felony charge; tried to hide a crime from the cops, which is a fourth-degree felony; had a lost or stolen credit card in his possession, a petty misdemeanor; had a forged driver license, which is a fourth-degree felony; tried to conceal his true identity from the police two times. The concealing identity charges are petty misdemeanors as well.

Smith, meanwhile, was charged with conspiracy to commit forgery, a fourth-degree felony, and concealing her identity, a petty misdemeanor.

The alleged crimes were investigated by the New Mexico State Police.

Grand jury members also heard several cases involving drugs and handed up the following indictments:

• Terri Velasquez, 30, and Michelle Sanchez, 38, were indicted on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. The grand jury indictment states that on Jan. 1, Velasquez and Sanchez were allegedly caught with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The possession charge is a third-degree felony and the paraphernalia charge is a misdemeanor. Valesquez and Sanchez each face up to four years behind bars and/or $6,000 in fines.
  
  
• Paul Barker Jr., 18, was indicted on charges of distribution of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a third-degree felony; and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, a fourth-degree felony. The charges stem from Barker's April 14, 2004, arrest. The teen faces up to four and one-half years in prison and/or $10,000 in fines.
  
  
• Antonio Lujan, 40, was indicted on a charge of trafficking controlled substances. The charge, a second degree felony, stems from an alleged Dec. 20, 2004, incident involving cocaine. The reported crime was investigated by Grants Police. Lujan faces up to nine years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
  
  
• Damian Cantu, 24, and Michelle Rael, 25, came to Cibola County on Nov. 13, 2004, from California, where both live. However, their stay in Cibola County was a rude awakening. The pair were caught in an alleged stolen Chevy Suburban utility vehicle. Each faces up to one year in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
  
  
• Michael Chavez, 18, and Jerry A. Chavez, 26, were indicted on several charges stemming from a Nov. 27 incident. Michael Chavez is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a fourth degree felony, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a third degree felony, child abuse, a third degree felony and receiving stolen property. In his case, a firearm was allegedly used.
  
  
• Jerry A. Chavez is charged with child abuse, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property and criminal damage to property ($1,000 or less), a petty misdemeanor. Michael Chavez faces up to nine years in prison and/or $20,000 in fines and Jerry A. Chavez faces up to six and one-half years in prison and/or $15,500 in fines.