Various Sources
The sentencing phase of Marc Rosenthal, the millionaire heir to a nationwide food-service corporation and an Austin personal injury attorney, continued late today on federal racketeering charges in Brownsville.
Rosenthal – who a jury in Corpus Christi convicted on 13 counts including racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and tampering with a proceeding – was the latest man sentenced for a string of convictions tied to a judicial bribery investigation.
Rosenthal was supposed to be sentenced in October, but that was delayed until today.
According to live FB coverage by AIM Media Newspapers Emma Perez-Treviño, federal judge Andrew Hanen acquitted Rosenthal of count 6 (mail fraud)and is considering count 13; meaning that 12 of the 13 guilty verdicts stand. The prosecution and defense have argued over the counts during most of the day with the defense urging acquittal and the prosecution asking for the maximum sentence on the convictions.
Prosecutors alleged Rosenthal was one of the lawyers who bribed former state District Judge Abel Limas for favorable decisions. The judge also had an agreement to go work for Rosenthal's firm after leaving the bench. He was arrested in 2011.
Prosecutors had filed a motion Monday asking that Rosenthal be ordered to forfeit more than $7.8 million. Attorneys argued that $14 million were paid in settlement of the helicopter crash case and that from $6 million to $6.4 million of this was paid in excess of what would normally be paid because the company believed it could not get a fair trial in Limas' court. Limas transferred the case to 357th District Court presided by Leonel Alejandro – a friendly judge – after he had already accepted a position with Rosenthal's law firm.
Late into the hearing, Hanen denied the government's motion siding with defense attorneys who said the government had "blindsided" them with the motion without giving them notice.
Other federal witnesses testifying in the sentencing phase included former DA Yolanda de Leon and attorney Peter Zavaletta, both of who were charged with defamation by several persons who were named in a newspaper advertisement. Zavaletta was a candidate for DA against Villalobos and it was alleged that de Leon, counsel for Monica's House, had passed on the names to help him with his campaign.
De Leon testified that she had legal fees of $39,207 in defense of criminal charges that were brought against her. Zavaletta said his losses have been $38,920, including about $14,000 in legal fees and $25,000 in a donation that he was forced to make to Monica's House.
She was also named in a civil lawsuit that was settled with an insurance company. She testified that she had been opposed to the insurance company having settled the lawsuit. The insurance company settled for $610,000
Last week, former state representative Jim Solis was sentenced to 47 months in federal prison. He reported to a minimum security facility near Little Rock, Arkansas last Tuesday.
Solis pleaded guilty in 2011 to racketeering charges. He admitted to bribing Limas with $250,000 in exchange for favorable rulings.
Limas pleaded guilty to bribery and racketeering. He's scheduled to begin his six-year prison sentence at a Florida facility tomorrow.
Former Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos is also waiting to be sentenced after a jury convicted him on racketeering and extortion charges. His sentencing hearing was set for late October, but his attorneys asked for more time to argue for a shorter sentence.
The judge delayed the sentencing, but has not set a new date.
Prosecutors said Villalobos bribed former state District Judge Abel Limas and accepted money from other attorneys. He remains free on a $50,000 bond.
Testimony continued in the Rosenthal's sentencing after the usual 5 p.m. closing time of the courthouse. News reports have indicated he could get as much as life in prison for the accumulated offenses. It is possible the hearing will continue Tuesday.
The sentencing phase of Marc Rosenthal, the millionaire heir to a nationwide food-service corporation and an Austin personal injury attorney, continued late today on federal racketeering charges in Brownsville.
Rosenthal – who a jury in Corpus Christi convicted on 13 counts including racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and tampering with a proceeding – was the latest man sentenced for a string of convictions tied to a judicial bribery investigation.
Rosenthal was supposed to be sentenced in October, but that was delayed until today.
Prosecutors alleged Rosenthal was one of the lawyers who bribed former state District Judge Abel Limas for favorable decisions. The judge also had an agreement to go work for Rosenthal's firm after leaving the bench. He was arrested in 2011.
Prosecutors had filed a motion Monday asking that Rosenthal be ordered to forfeit more than $7.8 million. Attorneys argued that $14 million were paid in settlement of the helicopter crash case and that from $6 million to $6.4 million of this was paid in excess of what would normally be paid because the company believed it could not get a fair trial in Limas' court. Limas transferred the case to 357th District Court presided by Leonel Alejandro – a friendly judge – after he had already accepted a position with Rosenthal's law firm.
Late into the hearing, Hanen denied the government's motion siding with defense attorneys who said the government had "blindsided" them with the motion without giving them notice.
Other federal witnesses testifying in the sentencing phase included former DA Yolanda de Leon and attorney Peter Zavaletta, both of who were charged with defamation by several persons who were named in a newspaper advertisement. Zavaletta was a candidate for DA against Villalobos and it was alleged that de Leon, counsel for Monica's House, had passed on the names to help him with his campaign.
De Leon testified that she had legal fees of $39,207 in defense of criminal charges that were brought against her. Zavaletta said his losses have been $38,920, including about $14,000 in legal fees and $25,000 in a donation that he was forced to make to Monica's House.
She was also named in a civil lawsuit that was settled with an insurance company. She testified that she had been opposed to the insurance company having settled the lawsuit. The insurance company settled for $610,000
Last week, former state representative Jim Solis was sentenced to 47 months in federal prison. He reported to a minimum security facility near Little Rock, Arkansas last Tuesday.
Solis pleaded guilty in 2011 to racketeering charges. He admitted to bribing Limas with $250,000 in exchange for favorable rulings.
Limas pleaded guilty to bribery and racketeering. He's scheduled to begin his six-year prison sentence at a Florida facility tomorrow.
Former Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos is also waiting to be sentenced after a jury convicted him on racketeering and extortion charges. His sentencing hearing was set for late October, but his attorneys asked for more time to argue for a shorter sentence.
The judge delayed the sentencing, but has not set a new date.
Prosecutors said Villalobos bribed former state District Judge Abel Limas and accepted money from other attorneys. He remains free on a $50,000 bond.
Testimony continued in the Rosenthal's sentencing after the usual 5 p.m. closing time of the courthouse. News reports have indicated he could get as much as life in prison for the accumulated offenses. It is possible the hearing will continue Tuesday.
6 comments:
This scumbag bribed public officials and now is causing millions of tax dollars to be expended through our "liberal" judicial system. Both Rosenthal and his attorney Ernesto Gamez have never seen a tax dollar they couldn't waste.
Rosenthal deserves to spend the rest of his life in a place where he has no power and surrounded by the two races he despised the most, blacks and hispanics. He used to brag about his lawyering but it was all bribes the whole time. Its no wonder why he felt so good in Brownsville, his pockets were full of politicians.
I hope the judge makes the right call and gives him what is deserved.
DONT DROP THE SOAP
He'll walk. He's already been acquitted of one charge. The judge is bought and paid for.
So what? just leave him alone, why don't you guys talk about all the good things he did for the public? why does it all have to be the bad things? you guys are assholes and like to make fire of a good tree!!
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