What do Jose "Meme" Longoria, former state rep. Jim Solis, Joe Valle and Abel Limas have in common?
Apart from being indicted, federal indictments indicate that they also have directs links to big fish Austin attorney Marc Rosenthal, the alleged money man who hired Limas "of counsel" after he was defeated by Elia Cornejo-Lopez and funneled payoffs in the $100,000s to get favorable rulings in his multi-million cases.
The surprise is that the federal government hasn't indicted him yet. All that observers of the local legal scene can speculate is that the government wants an airtight case against the heav
y lifter before making their move.
"They're working their way from the outside toward the middle," said one. "They are making sure they have an airtight case against him before they make their move."
Now that Valle has pleaded guilty to referring a wrongful death case to Rosenthal at Limas instigation so that the former disgraced district judge could make brownie points, the net gets tighter. Valle admitted that he had received $25,000 for the referral from Roenthal of which he gave Limas $3,000 as his cut.
Longioria was the middleman in payments made by different people to Limas, as was Solis, who – according to a plea bargain deal package – made at least there payments related to another case that resulted in a multimillion settlement. Limas said he received two checks of $50,000 and another for $85,000 in return for making favorable rulings for Rosenthal.
On his firm's website, it states that "Marc's practice currently consists of handling catastrophic injury and death cases against irresponsible individuals, corporations, and governmental entities. He also represents various Fortune 500 companies and other corporations as plaintiffs in commercial and corporate litigation, particularly involving matters in which such companies have been defrauded, overcharged, or otherwise wronged by other companies. Marc also takes pride in representing physicians before the Texas Board of Medical Examiners.
Point of interest: Marc Rosenthal is a former Mr. Texas bodybuilding champion."
On Wednesday, Valle pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Limas in an extortion scheme.
Attorney Ray Marchan has also been indicted in another case involving Limas and pleaded not guilty. Longoria is also a defendant in another case and has also pleaded not guilty.
Most observers indicate that the defendants are probably trying to work out deals with federal investigators in exchange for recommendations of lighter sentences.
In his plea agreement, Valle agreed to fully cooperate to inform the agents of any criminal activity known to him.
"That's casting a pretty wide net," said a source. "This is not over by a long shot."
The scorecard in the Limas case so far stands like this:
Suspect, Role, Charged, Guilty Plea, Sentencing
Abel Limas, Judge, March 29th, March 31st, October 3rd
Jose M. Longoria, Middleman, March 30th, N/A, N/A
Jose S. Solis, Attorney, April 29th, April 29th, October 12th
Ray R. Marchan, Attorney, June 21st, N/A, N/A
Francisco Cisneros, Bondsman, June 21st, August 8th, November 14th
Armando Peña, Probationer, June 21st, July 19th, October 24th
Karina Peña, Wife, June 21st, July 26th, October 31st
Joe Valle, Attorney, August 10th, August 10th, November 14th
5 comments:
Thank you for your article, Juan. Your coverage of the Limas scandal is more knowlegable and thorough than any other source. These early indictments seem like the prolog to bigger fish and more significant arrests.
What about settlement kickbacks in the bigger cases involving Marchan, Zayas, etc..?
A few things yet to be brought to light; I agree Juan is bringing things to light but the light comes from an insider in the Federal Courthouse divulging information not made public at the time he is divulging it.
Did anyone ever stop and think maybe this investigation encircles a federal sting and ...... who would be playing the whole bunch?
I can see where the Honorable Jim Solis touches the Austin Law Firm and certainly funding backed up his expenses and investment in a future position "of counsel" for the Honorable Abel Limas determined to be active post bench. How, other than through Solis; do the other crooks connect to the law firm? It appears, Solis is the man who made the deals? Are there any checks directly to the Judge for anything other than for employment after he leaves the bench? I see Mr Jim Solis as a big fish and I wander if maybe the Austin Firm is and has been assisting the feds all along? How do the other aforementioned attach directly to an Austin Law firm?
Watt is the name of the courthouse?
Ad litem white collar crime uncovered?
Who's that Rose with RINO?
Velacrat is behind the scenes.
Whose Horse That Is I think I Know?
Something is wrong when a man is sentenced to more years in prison for the blinding love of avarice when murder will draw a shorter sentence.
Money is their blood.
Take their money and make em put a sign in the front yard.
If you are an attorney you must be crooked, if you are a mayor and an attorney then you are most definitely___________.
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