Former Lobos AD makes court appearance
Use of public money for trip at center of charges
Former University of New Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs appeared briefly in a courtroom Friday where he is facing charges for allegedly using public money on a trip to Scotland with a former basketball coach and private donors.
He wore a black suit with a red tie and wasn’t asked to enter a plea on the charges during the appearance. Prosecutors said the next step in the case will be a preliminary hearing, where the state will try to show they have probable cause that Krebs acted criminally when he was at the helm of the athletic department.
A criminal information filed in 2nd Judicial District Court charges Krebs, 62, with eight criminal counts, including fraud over $20,000, making or permitting a false public voucher, criminal solicitation, tampering with evidence and money laundering between $50,000 and $100,000, which are felonies. He has also been charged with a misdemeanor count related to ethical principles of public service, according to court documents.
Prosecutors in court on Friday didn’t address Krebs’ conditions of release.
The state Attorney General’s Office has charged Krebs in connection to a 2015 athletics department fundraising golf trip to Scotland attended by Krebs, former Lobos men’s basketball coach Craig Neal and former Lobo Club executive director Kole McKamey. About $64,000 of university money was spent on the trip, including nearly $25,000 to pay some costs for three private donors who attended: Paul Gibson, Darin Davis and Raleigh Gardenhire, according to court documents and prior Journal reports.
Krebs was the university’s athletic director for more than 10 years. At the time he retired while under investigation in June 2017, he was making more than $400,000 annually, according to prior Journal reports.