Austin attorney convicted in South Texas racketeering scheme
An Austin attorney was convicted by a federal jury Thursday in a South Texas racketeering scheme, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.
Following a four-week long trial in Corpus Christi, 51-year-old Marc Rosenthal was convicted of bribing a state district judge and witnesses in both state and federal cases.
A multi--agency investigation revealed that from November 2005 until December 2008, Rosenthal and accomplices—including Judicial District Court Judge Abel Corral Limas and former legislator Jose “Jim” Santiago Solis--orchestrated a scheme in which Limas and Solis were paid money and “other considerations” in exchange for favorable court rulings in Rosenthal’s cases. He also bribed funeral directors and another public employee to refer cases to his firm.
The investigation also found the Austin lawyer filed fraudulent personal injury cases in both state and federal court, depriving citizens’ “right to honest services of an elected official,” according to the DOJ.
The conviction is a result of a multi-agency investigation, involving the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Brownsville Police Department.
Rosenthal is formally convicted of one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization statue, five counts of mail fraud, three counts of tampering with witnesses or proceedings, one count of extortion and three counts of mail fraud, aiding and abetting in deprivation of honest services.
Rosenthal face 20 years in federal prison on each count. Sentencing is set for the morning of June 5 in Brownsville.
The federal government is also seeking $5.95 million from Rosenthal, according to the DOJ.