LAW FIRM ASSOCIATED WITH GUS RUIZ UNDER RANGER PROBE

Ruiz & Davis, PLLC - 2018-2019Special to El Rrun-Rrun

A paralegal for a law firm associated with Cameron County Precint 4 Commissioner Gus Ruiz has been charged with barratry.

Authorities linked 49-year-old Mission resident Juan Salvador Tovar – who lists his employment as a pralegal with Ruiz & Davis, PLLC, in Harlingen – with soliciting to try to provide legal services to Alejandro Deluna, who had not contacted Tovar to seek those services, according to a probable cause affidavit for the man’s arrest.

They say that he drove to Alejandro Deluna Jr.’s mother’s house on Sept. 5 in a red Mercedes to try to provide legal services to Deluna, who had not contacted Tovar to seek those services, according to a probable cause affidavit for the man’s arrest.

Tovar works for the The Law Office of Robert Davis Jr., P.L.L.C., which is based in Harlingen, according to the probable cause affidavit. Davis's website lists his latest employment as Ruiz & Davis, PLLC - 2018-2019.

Deluna told Rangers he had been in an accident involving a commercial motor vehicle on Aug. 30 or 31.

“The following day, Deluna stated he was sore and went to a local urgent care clinic to receive medical attention,” the affidavit states. “The following day on or about September 3, 2019, Deluna received unsolicited phone calls from an individual who was soliciting Deluna for professional employment as counsel, medical attention and therapy.”

Two days later, the investigator recorded a phone call between Deluna, Tovar and two co-conspirators who authorities haven’t identified as of Tuesday, according to the charging document.

“During the call, Deluna did not solicit employment, rather Deluna stated that he was involved in an accident and was returning a phone call,” the affidavit states. “During the call, co-conspirators specifically stated that he was involved in an accident and was returning a phone call.”

The co-conspirators connected the call to “JT,” or Tovar, who is a legal representative for the attorney that would handle the case, authorities say.

“Deluna asked how did the co-conspirator get Deluna’s phone number. The co-conspirator stated that Deluna’s information is referred to him,” the affidavit states. “The co-conspirator stated that JT would go meet with Deluna at Deluna’s residence to take care of the paperwork.”

Authorities say that Tovar then got on the phone and identified himself as working for a law firm which handles injury cases.

The investigator went to the mother’s house on Sept. 6 and identified Tovar as the person who arrived at her house the previous day, according to the charging document. The mother also gave the Ranger Tovar’s business card, which was from The Law Office of Robert Davis Jr., P.L.L.C., authorities say.

Ruiz's role in the case – if any – has not been made public. The affidavit did not say whether Davis and Ruiz were the two co-conspirators.