Joel Androphy with Norton A. Colvin, Jr. of Colvin, Chaney, Saenz & Rodriguez, LLP represented Armando Villalobos

Joel Androphy with Norton A. Colvin, Jr. of Colvin, Chaney, Saenz & Rodriguez, LLP defended Armando Villalobos, the former District Attorney of Cameron County, in a public corruption trial in federal court in Brownsville, Texas. The government charged Villalobos with twelve counts of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, extortion, and honest services fraud.  Before trial, the defense moved to dismiss all counts, and, in response, the government withdrew the three honest services fraud counts.  After a two-week trial, the jury acquitted Villalobos of two counts of extortion, rejecting the government’s allegations that Villalobos accepted payments from former Cameron County state district judge Abel C. Limas and attorney Oscar De La Fuente in exchange for fixing their cases. The jury found Villalobos guilty on the remaining seven counts.