Tipster Claims Ruben Pena's Disappearance Involves More Than Armando Villalobos Trial

Ruben Pena

Among the dirty details surfacing in the Armando Villalobos trial were alleged payoffs to prosecutors in the murder case against Pepe Villarreal.  It is alleged that the Villarreal family made payoffs to prosecutors eventually resulting in the murder charge being dismissed in Leonel Alejandro's court.

Attorney Ruben R. Pena was assigned as a special prosecutor in the Pepe Villarreal case and, according to Juan Montoya of the El Rrun Rrun blog was sought for testimony in the Armando Villalobos trial: 

" Last week, before the conclusion of the Villalobos trial, several process servers and government investigators were trying to serve Peña with federal subpoenas to testify during the trial. He was nowhere to be found. The story was that he was out of town on family business, but eyewitnesses say they saw the former county commissioner candidate and San Benito school board member shopping at the Harlingen Dillard's store at the time of the trial."

This morning I received a tip indicating alleged unavailability involves more than the Armando Villalobos case:

"Jim, word is Mr. Pena is hiding out in Mexico.  The F.B.I. is looking for him.  It is related to a lot of things, but one in particular, the San Benito School District.  In 1986 Pena was the Executor for the Rex L. McGarr estate(No. 1986 CPC-24, 352-A).  The estate left over a million dollars, but many of the heirs did not get their share with Pena creating a scheme for personal gain by having the property sold to the SBCISD.  The heirs tried to have the case reopened but a former judge signed off on the wrongdoing.  He never told the court of the final inventory of the estate."

Looking up this case, I found that a rehearing was denied by trial judge Everardo Garcia on 12/7/2000.  The petitioners in the case were from the Dutha family; Herman, Lee Roy, Paul M., Rex and Ruby M., represented by Attorney Heriberto Medrano.

The irony here is that during the 2010 Ruben Pena vs. Ernie Hernandez, Jr. election fraud case, process servers were unable to locate and serve politiqueras Norma Hernandez, Margarita Ozuna and Herminia Becerra(It was later reported that they were holed up in a property on South Padre Island during that trial).

I called Ruben Pena's Brownsville law office this morning.  His secretary said he was unavailable, but not in Mexico.  I left her my number.  I will be more than happy to publish Mr. Pena's version of these matters if my call is returned.

Addendum:  At 5:30 PM today I received a call from Ruben Pena.  He said he was not aware of my story or the one in El Rrun Rrun, but was simply returning my call.  He stated that he had just returned from Houston after having his thyroid removed.  A cancerous lesion had indicated removal.  He had been in Houston since May 21, the day of his pre-operative appointment.  

Pena stated that, although out of town, he was available and was not aware of any calls to his office or residence from process servers or the F.B.I.  He was set to return to Houston for removal of stitches and post-operative biopsy.