Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Limas, who presently practices law in Brownsville, served two terms as a state district
judge beginning in January 2001 and ending in December 2008, following his defeat in
the Democratic primary in March 2008.
On March 31, Limas acknowledged the facts in a lengthy recitation of the evidence
against him read into the record in open court by the United States which proved that
Limas used his state elected office as the sitting judge of the 404th District Court to enrich
himself through bribery and extortion. Limas accepted money from criminal defendants
and intermediaries in return for favorable judicial rulings in criminal cases, including
terminations of probationary terms and modification of probationary terms and bond
terms. He also accepted money and other consideration from attorneys in civil cases
pending in his court in return for favorable pre-trial rulings in certain cases, including a
case involving a helicopter crash at South Padre Island in February 2008. He also
accepted money from attorneys in return for ad litem appointments. Limas also
acknowledged receiving a total of $257,300 between August 2007 through Jan. 2, 2009,
through his illegal racketeering enterprise.
"Our judicial system depends upon the integrity and honesty of our judges to faithfully
execute their duty to fairly and impartially administer the law," said U.S. Attorney Moreno.
"Limas' greed deprived the citizens of Cameron County of the honest services expected of
him as a duly elected official. He will face the consequences for his self-dealing and abuse
of his official position. He is now a convicted felon and will in due course be fairly and
impartially sentenced."
Limas faces a maximum prison term of 20 years, a fine of up to twice the amount of gross
sanantonio.fbi.gov/…/sa041411.htm 1/2
4/16/2011 Federal Bureau of Investigation - The S…
proceeds received as a result of the bribery and extortion, and a maximum five-year term
of supervised release at his sentencing hearing, set for July 5, 2011. Limas has been
ordered released on a $50,000 unsecured bond pending his sentencing hearing.
The person who allegedly serves as "middle man" for Limas' criminal enterprise, Jose
Manuel Longoria, 52, a resident alien from Mexico residing in San Benito, Texas, was
arrested on Thursday, March 31, 2011, by agents of the FBI, Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) and officers of the Brownsville Police Department (BPD) as a result
of a warrant which issued following the filing of a criminal complaint under seal on March
30, 2011. Longoria is accused of wire fraud arising from a scheme to defraud the state of
Texas and its citizens of their right to the honest services of a state district judge
performed free from deceit, favoritism, bias, self-enrichment and self-dealing. A conviction
for wire fraud carries a maximum punishment of up to 20 years' imprisonment and a
$250,000 fine, upon conviction. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio set a bond of $100,000 for
Longoria who at this time remains in custody. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation
of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted
through due process of law.
The charges against Limas and Longoria are the result of an ongoing three-year
investigation being conducted by the FBI, DEA, and the Brownsville Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Wynne and Oscar Ponce are prosecuting the
case.
Accessibility | eRulemaking | Freedom of Information Act | Legal Notices | Legal Policies and
Disclaimers | Links
Privacy Policy | USA.gov | White House
FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Federal Government, U.S. Department of Justice.
sanantonio.fbi.gov/…/sa041411.htm 2/2