Federal Trial About to Begin for Lawyer Accused of Paying $11K in Bribes to Texas Judge
Other attorneys accused of wrongdoing in connection with a South Texas judge who admittedly accepted bribes have agreed to pleas.
But Ray Marchan, 54, is about to become the first to go to trial in a four-year federal investigation that is still continuing, according to the Associated Press and the Brownsville Herald.
Charged in the Brownsville case with racketeering, conspiracy and aiding and abetting extortion and wire fraud, Marchan allegedly paid over $11,000 in bribes to then-District Judge Abel C. Limas in exchange for favorable treatment. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
Limas has previously taken a plea and is awaiting sentencing. He is expected to be a witness against Marchan at trial. The defense is arguing that Limas had a strong motive to lie about Marchan to protect his own wife.
Additional and related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Stanford Law Grad Is Federally Indicted, Allegedly Paid Texas Judge $11K in Bribes”
ABAJournal.com: “DA Running for Congress Is Indicted; Feds Say He Ran His Office as a Criminal RICO Enterprise”
