Friends of Ours

Wrist Slap For Mexican Narcos Who Conspired To Bribe Federal Judge

Two Mexican nationals "associated to the Zetas drug cartel have been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for attempting to bribe a federal judge" who presided over a $65 million money laundering case in Austin, TX as reported by KXAN:  "the complex laundering scheme involved purchasing, breeding, racing and selling some 500 racehorses throughout the southwest."  The two wannabe fixers have been credited with time served, and they now will be deported as reported by Texas Lawyer.  Daryl Fields, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Texas, says "these felony convictions and removals should disqualify them from legally entering the U.S. in the future."  Right.  That's the last we'll hear from these two characters.  Because our borders are so secure and the risks so outweigh the rewards.

Italian Judge Charged As Ndrangheta Tool

Organized crime cannot exist without public corruption, and often that includes a judge or two in the pocket.

Italian police have charged a former judge with taking 100,000 euros ($135,000) to release several mobsters since 2009 from the drug-trafficking 'Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia as reported by ANSA.

Further reading that may be of interest:

U.S. And Italy Bust Alleged Joint Drug Operation Between Gambino Family And Calabrian Mafia

Trial Lawyer Gets 20 Years

Last February a federal jury convicted personal injury lawyer Marc G. Rosenthal from Austin, TX on thirteen charges for his role in a case-fixing racket operated by District Judge Abel C. Limas, and now the ambulance chaser "has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $12 million dollars in restitution" as reported by Sergio Chapa for KGBT.

Limas pleaded guilty in March 2011, and according to the plea agreement the crooked judge ran his courtroom like a racketeering enterprise pursuant to which he fixed cases as previously reported by The Brownsville Herald:  "The criminal activities that the former 404th state District Court judge has pleaded guilty to involve ties with certain attorneys and litigants where he would render favorable rulings in exchange for money."

Further reading that may be of interest:

Congress Must Investigate The Trial Lawyers

Trial Lawyer Sentenced For Case Fixing

Last February a federal jury convicted personal injury lawyer Marc G. Rosenthal from Austin, TX on thirteen charges for his role in a case-fixing racket operated by District Judge Abel C. Limas, and today the ambulance chaser will be sentenced as reported by The Associated Press:

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.

Limas pleaded guilty in March 2011, and according to the plea agreement the crooked judge ran his courtroom like a racketeering enterprise pursuant to which he fixed cases as previously reported by The Brownsville Herald:  "The criminal activities that the former 404th state District Court judge has pleaded guilty to involve ties with certain attorneys and litigants where he would render favorable rulings in exchange for money."

Rosenthal was remanded upon his February conviction, and apparently while behind bars has converted from Judaism to Christianity as reported by Sergio Chapa for KGBT.

Oy vey!

Further reading that may be of interest:

Congress Must Investigate The Trial Lawyers