Former judge testifies against lawyer in "cash for court favors" trial

Editor's note: Texas must be a refuge for judges who "rat" on their fellow conspirators.  Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com


Former judge testifies against lawyer in "cash for court favors" trial

by Sergio Chapa

Posted: 08.07.2013 at 9:32 AM

Sergio Chapa Sergio is KGBT's Interactive Manager and a reporter for VALLEYCENTRAL.COM. read more » Friend Sergio Follow Sergio Contact Sergio Sergio's feed Read more:  Local, Crime, News, Eduardo "Eddie" Lucio, Eduardo Lucio, Eddie Lucio, Cash for Court Favors, Federal Prosecutors, Cameron County Scandal, Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos, Armando Villalobos, Judge Andrwe Hanen, Abel Limas, Former Judge Limas, Brownsville, Cameron County, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas Share on favoritessave send print

Video Images Abel Limas File Photo Photo: 1 of 3 More slideshows » A former judge has taken stand to testify against an attorney accused of in the Cameron County cash for court favors scandal. Eduardo "Eddie" Lucio is on trial before U.S. District Court Judge Andrew in Corpus Christi. The Austin-based attorney is facing racketeering and several other corruption-related charges in Brownsville. But Judge Hanen granted Lucio a change of venue to Corpus Christi due to publicity surrounding the case. Lucio, who is not of any relation to the Texas State Senator or Texas State Representative, iis the last of 12 suspects in the bribery scandal. Prosecutors called former 404th State District Judge Abel Limas to the witness stand on Wednesday morning. Limas is testifying against Lucio, who prosecutors allege participated in the bribery schem to get lucrative lawsuits. Prosecutors contend Lucio bribed Limas and worked with the ex-partner Armando Villalobos, who was the Cameron County District Attorney at the time. Lucio testified he received a large bribe in a McDonalds bag and used the cash to pay bills and go see a boxing match in Las Vegas. A federal jury found Villalobos guilty of racketeering back in back in May. The former district attorney is awaiting sentencing for his role in the scandal. Lucio is the last of 12 suspects named in the bribery sandal. Get LIVE updates from the coutroom by following @SergioChapa on Twitter. Related Links LIVE updates from the courtroom on Twitter Trial begins for last attorney in "cash for court favors" scandal Jury selection begins for last lawyer in "cash for court favors" scandal Judge moves Eduardo Lucio corruption trial to Corpus Christi

Jury convicts former South Texas DA of corruption

May 25, 9:06 AM EDT Jury convicts former South Texas DA of corruption

US Video Buy AP Photo Reprints BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) -- A former Texas prosecutor and one-time candidate for Congress was convicted Friday of accepting bribes in exchange for court favors, including an $80,000 payment in a scheme that allowed a convicted murder to escape. Jurors convicted former Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos on racketeering, bribery and extortion charges. They acquitted him on two extortion charges. Villalobos is the highest-profile target to stand trial in an FBI investigation into legal corruption in Cameron County. The former prosecutor was accused of taking more than $100,000 in bribes from attorneys. Villalobos denied any wrongdoing and testified during his trial that he did not request money from lawyers in exchange for appointments with him. Among the allegations were that Villalobos participated in a scheme involving Amit Livingston, who was convicted of killing his girlfriend, Hermila Hernandez, in 2007. Prosecutors alleged former state District Judge Abel Lima agreed to work with Villalobos and Villalobos' former law partner, Eddie Lucio, in criminal and civil cases involving Livingston. The trio's target was the $500,000 bond put up for Livingston's release before trial. Federal prosecutors alleged Villalobos set up Lucio to represent Hernandez's three children in their lawsuit against Livingston, and the criminal and civil cases both landed in Limas' courtroom. In the criminal case, Limas agreed to convict and sentence Livingston on the same day, thereby freeing up his bond to be used as the settlement in the civil suit. However, Limas also agreed that day to Livingston's request that he would have 60 days to get his affairs in order before reporting to prison. That meant Livingston was released without bond - highly unusual for a convicted killer already sentenced to decades in prison. Livingston didn't report to prison as scheduled and hasn't been seen since. Lucio received $200,000 in attorney's fees for handling the civil case. Prosecutors said he kicked $80,000 back to Villalobos and together they gave about $10,000 to Limas to keep quiet. Lucio also faces charges in the case. Lima, who was one of the main witnesses at Villalobos' trial, pleaded guilty to racketeering and awaits sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Wynne told jurors in his opening statement that the cash payments Villalobos accepted from attorneys in exchange for his prosecutorial discretion amounted to "having a district attorney on retainer." "You pay him in advance so when you need him, he's there," Wynne told jurors at the federal courthouse in Brownsville. Prosecutors allege the activity took place from October 2006 through May 3, 2012. Villalobos, a two-term district attorney, served from 2005 through the end of 2012. He ran for Congress last year, losing in the Democratic primary. Villalobos remains free on bond. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the seven counts on which he was convicted. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 26.