A former state district judge faces federal charges in a case that accuses him of taking bribes from a criminal defense attorney who arranged car repairs to the judge's cars in exchange for favorable rulings.

Angus McGinty, who resigned this year from Bexar County's 144th District Court, is charged with conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, extortion under color of official rights, and 12 counts of honest services wire fraud. He allegedly took bribes from Alberto Acevedo Jr., who already pleaded guilty in a separate case.

"In exchange for bribes from Acevedo, Angus Kelly McGinty used his official position to provide favorable judicial rulings and actions which benefited Acevedo and his clients," alleges the indictment. "These favorable judicial rulings and actions which benefited Acevedo and his clients included leniency at sentencing and less restrictive conditions of release."

The indictment lists shocking text messages documenting the judge's alleged bribery by Acevedo.
"I'm a whore for money," said one text from McGinty, discussing how Acevedo would deliver cash to the judge after Acevedo sold the judge's 1992 Mercedes. But most of the allegations involve Acevedo arranging repairs for the judge's next car, a 2001 Mercedes.

There was no answer at McGinty's home telephone number. McGinty's lawyers, Alan Brown and Jay Norton of Brown & Norton in San Antonio, each didn't return a call seeking comment.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas recused itself from the case. The "special attorney" who is prosecuting McGinty, Brock E. Taylor, assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico, referred comment to the office's spokeswoman. Spokeswoman Elizabeth Martinez didn't return a call seeking comment.

Frank A. Perez, a Dallas solo who represents Acevedo, didn't return a call seeking comment.
Acevedo awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in March to one count of theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and a $100 assessment.

Car Repairs

The indictment in United States v. McGinty alleges that between January 2013 and April 2013, McGinty took bribes from Acevedo in the form of car repairs and the sale of McGinty's 1992 Mercedes. Acevedo paid $2,042 to detail, paint, color sand, replace a motor mount and replace a transmission mount.