Santa Fe, N.M. – A former manager of Armstrong McCall in Santa Fe has plead guilty for embezzling over $50,000 from his former employer and willfully committing tax fraud from 2013-2015. The plea follows an investigation by the Tax Fraud Investigations Division of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department.

Craig D. Latimore, 44, was sentenced to serve four and a half years of supervised probation. The three counts of tax fraud will run concurrently with each other and consecutively with the count of embezzlement. Latimore agreed to pay restitution and the amount is to be determined at a restitution hearing. Latimore was sentenced in Santa Fe County by District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Summer Sommer.

"This administration is committed to protecting New Mexico's taxpayers and hunting down those who would cheat the system," said Acting Secretary John Monforte. "Those who embezzle, commit fraud or steal taxpayer dollars will be caught and punished."

This investigation was referred to the NM Taxation & Revenue Department by the First Judicial District Attorney's Office.

The Tax Fraud Investigations Division of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department investigates suspected tax fraud, both business and personal, and coordinates with local, state, and federal law enforcement. The 24- hour Tax Fraud Hotline is available for tips of suspected fraud at 1 (866) 457- 6789. The Tax Fraud Investigations Division of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department boasts a 99% successful prosecution rate with 25 prosecutions since 2011.