Posts Tagged ‘theft’

Defense Attorney Facing Jail For Perjury & Theft

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

While the main job of a Houston criminal attorney is to defend his client, he is still required to uphold the law while doing so. Unfortunately, some lawyers seem unable to follow these basic tenants.

Carlos Correa was an attorney in Houston for the past 40 years, but recently found himself in the position of finding his own Houston criminal defense lawyer. During his many decades of practice, Correa had many run ins with the law, including failing to disclose information to U.S. Customs agents, improperly handling lawsuit monies, and more, but now he is facing serious charges that could result in a twenty year sentence. He was caught hiring a friend to lie on the witness stand in a murder trial in 2006 and cashing social security checks for his father between 1996 and 2008. Correa’s father died in 1996.

Correa is now facing twelve years in prison and the surrender of his legal license, but if he tries to flee before his incarceration begins, he may instead be put away for twenty years.

To read more about the story, see the article in the Houston Chronicle. Image via alan(ator) [Flickr].

EX-DA Employee Charged With Stealing From Victim’s Fund

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Eloise Mireles was employed at the District Attorney’s office for 16 years. In August, she was terminated after investigators uncovered evidence that she was embezzling from the crime victim’s fund created to help victims get back on their feet and receive the damages paid by defendants. On Friday, Mireles and her husband were both taken into custody. Eloise has been accused with embezzling over $200,000 and her husband, Daniel, has been charged with theft of more than $100,000 for his part in the crimes.

Authorities claim that Mireles took more than $232,000 from the fund over a period of several years. The District Attorney has said that repaying the victims who were cheated out of their funds will be his office’s first priority in the case and that enough funds have been recovered to reimburse all of the victims.

Eloise could face anywhere from 5-99 years in prison for her crimes and her husband could be imprisoned for up to ten years. Each of the defendants will face up to $10,000 in fines as well.

As of yet, neither of the Mireles, nor their Houston criminal attorneys, have been available for comment.

To read more about the crimes, see the article on KEN 5.