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Former El Paso Judge Gets Prison

By KRWG News

El Paso – A former El Paso state district judge is going to prison for his part in a bribery scheme.

A federal judge sentenced former Judge Manuel Barraza to five years in prison on Thursday.

A statement from the U.S. Attorney's office says U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo of El Paso also ordered Barraza to forfeit $5,100 in bribe money and serve three years of supervised release after his release.

A federal jury in El Paso found Barraza guilty on Feb. 4 of two wire fraud counts and one of making false statements, but acquitted him of a mail fraud count.

FBI agents and prosecutors say Barraza took the bribe from a defendant's sister to steer the case to his courtroom so he could help her. Prosecutors say Barraza also asked for sexual favors in return for his help.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.