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Former investigator indicted as 10th person in Abel Limas scandal
Posted: 08.24.2011 at 4:10 PM
Updated: 08.24.2011 at 6:00 PM
Sergio Chapa

Sergio is KGBT's Interactive Manager and a reporter for VALLEYCENTRAL.COM.

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A former Cameron County District Attorney's Office investigator has been identified as the 10th person indicted in connection to the Abel Limas cash for court favors scandal.

On Wednesday afternoon, authorities unsealed a federal indictment filed against 47-year-old Jaime Munivez.

The former investigator is accused in a five-page, five count indictment of collaborating with drug traffickers and former 404th State District Court Judge Limas.

Court records show that Munivez and Limas corruption scandal suspect Jose Manuel Longoria obtained property for an unnamed drug trafficker.

Munivez is also accused of abusing his post to help track down a missing truck filled with drug cash in the Houston area.

The indictment shows that Munivez even leaked information to a murder suspect Pepe Villarreal about his case.

Court records show that a federal grand jury indicted Munivez back on July 19th but the case remained sealed until Wednesday.

Munivez appeared before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Felix Recio in Brownsville on Wednesday afternoon.

Judge Recio issued a $75,000 dollar unsecured bond for Munivez.

The former investigator is next scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on Thursday, September 1st.

Suspects Charged In Connection to Abel Limas Case:

SuspectRoleChargedGuilty PleaSentencing
    
Abel LimasJudgeMarch 29thMarch 31stOctober 3rd
Jose Manuel LongoriaMiddlemanMarch 30thN/AN/A
Jose Santiago SolisAttorneyApril 29thApril 29thOctober 12th
Ray Roman MarchanAttorneyJune 21stN/AN/A
Francisco CisnerosBondsmanJune 21stAugust 8thNovember 14th
Armando PeñaProbationerJune 21stJuly 19thOctober 24th
Karina PeñaWifeJune 21stJuly 26thOctober 31st
Jaime MunivezDA InvestigatorJuly 19thN/AN/A
Joe ValleAttorneyAugust 10thAugust 10thNovember 14th
Marc RosenthalAttorneyAugust 16thN/AN/A
   



Statement from Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos:

“We are shocked and saddened by the allegations against Jaime.  While he worked here, he displayed a good work ethic and seemed very respectful of his peers in law enforcement.  We have reviewed his work product and his passwords for our computer systems, and find no breach in security that would cause us concern at this point in time.  We would expect the Federal Government to inform us if there are any cases that they are aware of, that have been compromised by Jaime’s previous employment with our office.  Nothing in Jaime’s past gave us concern for the possibility of these types of allegations.   He comes from a good family, his wife is the principal at Harlingen High School.  Jaime came to work for us in January of 2005, having had a long career in law enforcement with the County, starting with the Sheriff’s office in 1985 to 1989, Bailiff for Judge Darrell Hester from 1989 to 1998, Bailiff for Judge Janet Leal from 1999 to 2000,  a short period of time with US Border Patrol in 2000, and Bailiff for Judge Abel Limas from 2001 to 2004.  Jaime resigned from our office in April of 2011. Our understanding was that after 25+ years with the County, he wanted to try other ventures, including a catering company that he was going to open upon leaving our office.  We hope the allegations are not true, but if proven, we expect Jaime to accept his transgressions and due punishment.”

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