BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS (AP) -- Jury selection is to begin in the federal trial of a South Texas lawyer charged with bribing a judge to get favorable rulings and appointments.
Ray Marchan of Port Isabel is charged with racketeering and conspiracy and accused of paying bribes totaling more than $11,000 to former state district Judge Abel C. Limas in 2008.
Limas has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges and awaits sentencing.
Now in its fourth year, the federal investigation into how Limas made his Brownsville courtroom into a money generator has swept up a host of people.
Marchan would be the first person implicated in the investigation to stand trial.
Court records indicate prosecutors made Marchan a plea offer, but Friday afternoon lawyers on both sides signed an order indicating they'd proceed with jury selection.
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