The New Mexico Department of Justice Charges Multiple Individuals in Elder and Resident Abuse Cases

The New Mexico Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Division has announced charges in four separate cases of elder and resident abuse. Two of the incidents occurred at assisted living facilities in Santa Fe and Rio Rancho. The other two incidents involved abuse of Developmental Disabilities Waiver recipients and occurred in Santa Fe and Las Vegas. The defendants – Salomon Sanchez, Lee Carrizales, Linda Romero, and Edwars D. Bonilla-Aguinada – are charged with Abuse of a Resident, with each count carrying potential penalties of up to six months in prison.

“These charges send a clear message that abuse of vulnerable New Mexicans will not be tolerated,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “The treatment of our elders and residents in care facilities is a direct reflection of our values as a community. When caregivers violate that trust and inflict harm, they not only hurt individuals but undermine the safety and dignity of our entire system of care. My office will use every tool at our disposal to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable and to restore trust in the care these individuals deserve.”

The cases stem from investigations launched after referrals from partner agencies and reports from the public. Each incident involves allegations of verbal or physical abuse against individuals entrusted for the care of the victims.

The defendants and the allegations are as follows:

• Salomon Sanchez, an employee at Community Options, Inc., a Developmental Disabilities Waiver group home in Santa Fe, was captured on video forcibly grabbing a resident, shoving the victim’s face toward a table, and refusing assistance while making degrading comments.
• Lee Carrizales, an employee at Pacifica Senior Living Facility, is charged with two counts of Abuse of a Resident for verbally assaulting two facility members. Videos of this abuse were posted on Facebook and alerted to our office by the New Mexico Department of Health.
• Linda Romero, a paid caregiver, is accused of striking a Developmentally Disabled Waiver recipient multiple times in front of several witnesses.
• Edwars D. Bonilla-Aguinada, an employee at Morningstar of Rio Rancho Assisted Living Facility, is accused of aggressively forcing an 89-year-old resident with Alzheimer’s to undergo a diaper change after an accident, disregarding her discomfort and condition.

Criminal complaints for each case have been filed and are attached to this release. Videos taken of Salomon Sanchez and Lee Carrizales can be found here.

This case was investigated by the NMDOJ’s Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Division (MFEAD). The New Mexico MFEAD receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $3,293,072 for federal fiscal year 2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $1,097,690 for fiscal year 2024, is funded by the State of New Mexico.

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