SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- A state securities regulator has obtained a search warrant to seize documents and materials at the New Mexico Finance Authority involving a fake financial audit distributed to investors.

Regulation and Licensing Department Superintendent J. Dee Dennis said Wednesday the authority has been cooperating with the investigation by the Securities Division and the search warrant was done to preserve evidence.

A search warrant affidavit said investigators sought financial statements, accounting schedules, bank records as well as other documents such as email of authority staff and governing board members.

Authority officials have blamed a former controller for falsifying financial statements to indicate they were audited by an outside accounting firm.

The affidavit said the distribution of the fake audit to investors is a violation of state securities law.