Hispanic DA in Texas Charged With Corruption, Allowing Murderer To Escape
05/21/2012
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Via Overlawyered:

DA Running for Congress Is Indicted; Feds Say He Ran His Office as a Criminal RICO Enterprise

ABA Journal

Posted May 7, 2012 5:15 PM CDT
By Martha Neil

A sitting district attorney in South Texas has been federally indicted, accused of working with his former law partner and others to operate the local justice system as a criminal racketeering enterprise.

Cameron County District Attorney Armando R. Villalobos, who is currently running for election to a seat in the U.S. Congress, is accused with his former law partner, Eduardo "Eddie" Lucio, and others of participating in a criminal scheme to deprive the public of the honest services of their public officials and derive a profit from the operations of the judicial system, according to the Brownsville Herald.

The indictment (PDF) says the DA took more than $100,000 in bribes to minimize and settle criminal cases, the Associated Press reports. Among other claimed misconduct, he is accused of obtaining an $80,000 payoff in exchange for arranging for a convicted murderer to be given 60 days to get his affairs in order before reporting to prison, during which time he fled.[More]

I couldn't figure out, offhand, the name of the murderer mentioned who had fled, but Villalobos's campaign material gives a list of the the people he's had convicted:

Aggressive Prosecution of Violent Offenders and Sexual Predators (some recent examples):

  • Melissa Lucio, Capital Murder, Death Penalty Assessed
  • Manuel Velez, Capital Murder, Death Penalty Assessed
  • John A. Rubio, Capital Murder, Death Penalty Assessed
  • Alfonso Granados-Lucas Murder, Life Sentence
  • Angela Camacho, Capital Murder, 3 Life Sentences
  • Jorge Arrellano, Intoxication Manslaughter, 4 Life Sentences
  • Arturo Rodriguez, Murder, Life
  • Jose Miguel Vasquez, Jr., Murder, Life
  • Javier Chavez, Murder, Life
  • Francisco Gonzalez, Murder, Life
  • Raul Coronado, Jr., Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 7 Life Sentences
  • Norberto A. Lucio, White Collar Crime, 235 Years Total
  • Abraham Mar, Attempted Capital Murder, 101 Years Total
  • James E. Pearson, 2 Counts Intoxication Manslaughter, 100 Years Total
  • Gilberto A. Lucio, White Collar Crime, 100 Years Total
  • Martin A. Lucio, White Collar Crime, 80 Years Total
  • Sergio Gonzales, Aggravated Assault on Peace Officer, 77 Years Total
  • Adrian P. Contreras, Murder, 77 Years Total
  • Miguel A. Alvarado, Aggravated Robbery, 70 Years Total
  • Cecilio Mendoza, Attempted Capital Murder, 62 Years Total
  • Luis Carlos Mares, Murder, 60 Years Total
  • Israel Avila, Murder, 40 Years Total
  • Jesus De Leon, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 50 Years Total
  • Alberto Lopez, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 45 Years Total
  • Jose M. Lopez, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 32 ½ Years Total
  • Charles Ruth III, Burglary of a Habitation, Aggravated Assault, 35 Years Total
  • Jessie James Rodriguez, Murder, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, 40 Years Total
  • Juan M. Hinojosa, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 40 Years Total
  • Rodolfo O. Duran, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 40 Years Total
  • Richard Hernandez, Murder, 35 Years Total
  • Juan M. Rivera, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 25 Years Total

I am not picking and choosing Hispanic names—all the names on Villalobos's list are Hispanic,  except for drunk driver James E. Pearson.

 

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