Federal Judge Won't Dismiss RICO Conspiracy Case Against South Texas DA, But Delays Trial Until 2013
A federal judge in Brownsville has refused to dismiss a racketeering conspiracy case against a sitting district attorney and a lawyer accused of involvement in a judicial bribery scheme.
However, the judge did agreed to postpone until April 2013 the trial of Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos and attorney Eddie Lucio, reports the Associated Press. The trial had been scheduled for next month.
The brief article doesn’t include any comment from Villalobos or Lucio. Both pleaded not guilty and argued that the federal indictment under in which they are charged is too vague to permit them to defend themselves properly.
Former state district Judge Abel Limas has already pleaded guilty in a related case and awaits sentencing. Several lawyers have also pleaded guilty and one was convicted after a jury trial, as detailed in previous ABAJournal.com posts.
Additional and related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “DA Running for Congress Is Indicted; Feds Say He Ran His Office as a Criminal RICO Enterprise”
ABAJournal.com: “Texas DA Says He Won’t Step Down Despite His Indictment in Federal Racketeering Case”
ABAJournal.com: “Feds Say DA Got $80K, Judge Got $10K As They Conspired to Obtain Part of Murderer’s $500K Bail Bond”
ABAJournal.com: “Top Texas Court Vacates Libel Appeal and Appellate Opinion Due to $8K Bribe Paid to Trial Judge”
