Ex-judge testifies in lawyer's corruption trial

Ex-judge at center of corruption probe testifies against South Texas lawyer accused of bribes

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Published On: Jun 07 2012 10:43:58 AM CDT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — The former judge at the heart of a four-year federal investigation of judicial corruption in South Texas has begun testifying in the federal trial in Brownsville of a South Texas lawyer indicted in the probe.

Former state District Judge Abel Limas took the stand Thursday as a prosecution witness against Port Isabel lawyer Ray Marchan, who is the first of a dozen people indicted in the case to go to trial.

Limas, the government's featured witness, pleaded guilty last year to racketeering and is awaiting sentencing.

Marchan faces seven counts, including racketeering and conspiracy. He's accused of paying Limas bribes totaling more than $11,000 in 2008. On Wednesday, prosecutors showed jurors the $5,000 check for one of those alleged payments made out by Marchan to Limas' wife.

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