Home El Paso Press Releases 2010 Former El Paso Criminal District Court Judge Manuel Barraza Sentenced to Federal Prison
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Former El Paso Criminal District Court Judge Manuel Barraza Sentenced to Federal Prison

U.S. Attorney’s Office May 06, 2010
  • Western District of Texas (210) 384-7100

United States Attorney John E. Murphy and David Cuthbertson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - El Paso Division, announced that former El Paso Criminal District Court Judge Manuel Joseph Barraza, aka Manny Barraza, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison on charges related to a bribery scheme.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Frank Montalvo ordered that Barraza forfeit to the Government $5,100 in bribe money he received. Judge Montalvo also ordered that Barraza be placed under supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

In February, a jury convicted Barraza of two counts of wire fraud and the deprivation of honest services and one count of making false statements. The jury acquitted Barraza of one count of mail fraud. Evidence presented during trial revealed that beginning on or about December 2008 and continuing and including February 26, 2009, Barraza solicited, agreed to accept and accepted bribes in the form of cash money. He also solicited sex and agreed to accept a bribe of engaging in sexual activity with women. These acts were all committed in exchange for his influence and exercise of discretion in his official capacity as an elected judge. In carrying out his bribery scheme, Judge Barraza promised to intervene in a felony criminal case filed by the State of Texas pending in state district court in order to influence the outcome of the case.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Franco Gregory and Antonio Franco.

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