A former Texas state district court judge from San Antonio has pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with taking cash for favorable rulings from defense attorneys and will spend two years in prison. Angus Kelly McGinty, the former state judge for the 141st State District Court went before a U.S. federal judge in New Mexico where he pleaded guilty to one of the five counts filed against him which included wire fraud and bribery.
“Despite Judge McGinsty’s obligation to fairly and impartially carry out his duties as an elected judge, he engaged in serious criminal activity,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher H. Combs in a statement provided to Breitbart Texas. “Regardless of whether someone is a judge or any other public official, the FBI is committed to investigating and exposing public corruption.”
From January 2013 to September 2013 McGinty took bribes from San Antonio Attorney Alberto Acevedo Jr. in exchange for favorable rulings, information released to Breitbart Texas by the FBI and the U.S Attorney’s Office revealed.
The bribes included cash, car repairs, arranging to have the judge’s car sold and registering his new car amounting to about $6,655. In response, McGinty handed down lenient sentences and light probation conditions to Acevedo’s clients.
“I knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud the state of Texas and the citizens of Bexar County,” McGinty is quoted in U.S. Attorney’s Office news release. “I solicited and accepted things of value from Alberto Acevedo Jr. … I accepted these benefits knowing that the purpose was to influence me to exercise my official discretion as judge of the 144th Judicial District Court in favor of Mr. Acevedo and his clients.”
Acevedo pleaded guilty to bribery last month and is awaiting sentencing where he faces up to 10 years in prison.
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