Pubdate: Wed, 27 Dec 2000
Source: Laredo Morning Times (TX)
Copyright: 2000 Laredo Morning Times
Contact:  P.O. Box 2129, Laredo TX 78044
Fax: 956-724-3036
Website: http://www.lmtonline.com/
Author: Rick Santos, Times staff writer
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1446/a01.html

CARLOS RUBIO GIVEN 32-MONTH SENTENCE

Carlos Manuel Rubio, who was convicted in a case-fixing scheme involving 
the Webb County District Attorney's Office in Laredo, was sentenced to 32 
months in a federal prison.

Rubio was sentenced for his association in the federal official extortion 
case in which four other co-defendants who were also convicted are still 
awaiting sentencing.

Rubio was found guilty by a jury in August of conspiracy to violate the 
Hobbs Act for his involvement in referring others to Joe Rubio Sr.

Carlos Rubio was also sentenced earlier this year in a federal court in San 
Antonio to 18 months for his role in a narcotics conspiracy case arising 
from a federal investigation in Texas and Louisiana.

U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen ordered the 32-month sentence to run 
concurrently with the 18-month sentence.

"Prosecutors recommended consecutive sentences, but apparently, people who 
conducted the pre-sentence investigation felt he was a minor player," Webb 
County District Attorney and brother of Carlos, Joe Rubio, said.

Joe Rubio expressed his adversity towards the sentencing of Carlos.

"It is a difficult situation to go through because it is my family," he said.

Joe Rubio maintained high regards with amiable words of respect of court 
procedures.

"This is the system that I have lived by because it is my professional 
career," he said. "The jury rendered their verdict and I have to respect 
that decision. If a guy breaks the law he has to face the consequences."
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