Former NM Baptist Children’s Home Director Indited for Fraud, Forgery and Disposing of Stolen Property

Portales, NM – Ninth Judicial District Attorney, Quentin Ray, announced that on November 17, 2023, a Roosevelt County Grand Jury indicted David Randall Rankin, age 71, of Texas, on 28 counts of fraud, one count of forgery and one count of disposing of stolen property that occurred between 2018 and 2021.

The charges stem from Randy Rankin, former director of the NMBC and Jose Lopez, a local contractor fraudulently using the charity’s accounts and large construction projects to pay for personal home renovations.

Jose Lopez is charged with 30 counts of fraud, three counts of attempted tax evasion and, and one count of acting as a contractor without a license.

Rankin and Lopez will be arraigned in district court next month. Both, cases are being prosecuted by Special Prosecutor, Andrea Reeb and Assistant District Attorney, Anthony Jaimes.

For more information, please contact the District Attorney’s Office at 575-769-2246.