Ex-District Judge Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison
Posted: Aug 21, 2013 9:02 AM
Updated: Aug 21, 2013 11:54 AM
BROWNSVILLE - A judge sentenced former district
judge Abel Limas to six years in prison for one count of racketeering. Limas was
also ordered to forfeit $257,000 in property he owns and pay more than $6
million in restitution.
Limas was the focus of a corruption case at the
Cameron County courthouse. He pleaded guilty more than two years ago and has
testified in four trials related to the case.
The ex-judge confessed to accepting bribes for
favorable court rulings. He also admitted to taking more than $250,000 from four
attorneys.
In court today, his defense attorney said Limas was
rehabilitated and did everything asked of him. Limas apologized for embarrassing
the judiciary system and his family.
He left the courthouse without any comment about
his sentence.
Former Cameron County district attorney Yolando De
Leon called the outcome "a good recognition of the damage done to many, many
people, many institutions."
But Limas' attorney Chip Lews said, "I think it's
exorbitant. Given all the assistance Abel Limas gave the federal government, one
would expect a lighter sentence."
The former judge will report to federal prison in a
couple of months. Until then, he is a free man.
Below is a recap of the defendants connected to the
cash-for-court-favors scandal:
Attorney Ray Marchan was the first defendant in the
case to go to trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in
December 2012. He jumped to his death in February. His case was under appeal at
the time and the court ordered the conviction vacated.
Marc Rosenthal, a personal injury attorney based in
Austin was found guilty in February on 13 counts. He is currently at a federal
facility in Raymondville. His sentencing is scheduled for September.
Jose Manuel "Meme" Longoria of San Benito pleaded
guilty to four counts in April 2011. He is serving a 10-year federal prison
sentence. Prosecutors referred to him as a middleman in the
cash-for-court-favors scandal.
Harlingen attorney Jose Martin "Joe" Valle pleaded
guilty in August 2011 and was sentenced in May 2012 to one year and one day in
prison. He reported to prison on June 7, 2012 and was released March 14,
2013.
Jaime Munivez, an ex-bailiff for Limas and a former
criminal investigator for the Cameron County District Attorney Armando
Villalobos, pleaded guilty on December 13, 2011 and was sentenced last May to
one year and one day in prison. He reported to prison on July 25, 2012 and was
released June 6,2013.
Former Cameron County district attorney Armando
Villalobos was found guilty on seven counts in May. His sentencing is scheduled
for October 15, 2013.
Former state representative Jim Solis pleaded
guilty to a racketeering charge in 2011. Earlier this month, he was sentenced to
47 months in prison and three years probation. He was also ordered to pay about
$119,000 in restitution.
Armando Pena of Corpus Christi pleaded guilty in
July 2011. He admitted to arranging a $1,500 payment to Limas, which would allow
him to report to his probation officer by mail instead of in person. He was
sentenced on March 6, 2012 to two years and three months in federal prison. He
is serving his sentence in a Louisana prison.
Karina Pena pleaded guilty in July 2011 to aiding
and abetting honest services wire fraud. She admitted to arranging a payment to
Limas, so her husband could report to his probation officer by mail instead of
in person. She was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to complete 200
community service hours.
Francisco "Pancho" Cisneros, a bail bondsman,
pleaded guilty in 2011 and was sentenced last year to 16 months in federal
prison. At the time of his plea, Cisneros admitted to paying Longoria to bribe
Limas. Cisneros wanted a cash/surety bond changed to a personal recognizance
bond for a defendant in a drug case. Cisneros was released on March 22,
2013.
Eddie Lucio, an attorney not related to the state
lawmakers of the same name, was charged with five counts in connection with the
scheme. He was acquitted on August 13, 2013.
Abel Limas, the former state district judge,
pleaded guilty to racketeering in March 2011. He was sentenced to six years in
federal prison, ordered to forfeit $257,000 worth of property he owns, and must
pay more than $6 million in restitution.
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