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Federal agents execute search warrant at McAllen law office

Agents with Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at the Villalobos Law Center in McAllen on Thursday.

Attorney Javier Villalobos said agents searched an office he rents to attorney Eric Jarvis.

At least 10 law enforcement officers visited the Villalobos Law Center on Thursday morning. They left at about 11:30 a.m.

Agents with Homeland Security Investigations, a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, executed a search warrant at the Villalobos Law Center on April 22, 2021.

Asked why agents visited the law center, Homeland Security Investigations, which is a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, responded with a statement.

“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) McAllen special agents conducted an enforcement action this morning,” ICE spokeswoman Nina Pruneda said in an email. “The criminal investigation is ongoing, and no further details are available at this time.”

Jarvis — a prominent attorney who ran for state district judge in 2004 and 2006 — couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.

“He has a great reputation,” Villalobos said. “Especially as a federal lawyer.”

Jarvis challenged 92nd state District Judge Ed Aparicio in the March 2004 Democratic Party primary.

Aparicio narrowly defeated Jarvis. After the primary, however, Aparicio became embroiled in a federal investigation.

He was found dead in April 2005 with a “self inflicted gun shot wound to the head,” according to a Texas Rangers report on the incident.

Jarvis ran for 92nd state district judge again in the March 2006 Democratic Party primary. He lost to Ricardo Rodriguez Jr., who later became the Hidalgo County district attorney.

Villalobos released a statement about the search warrant on Thursday afternoon.

A federal agent outside the Villalobos Law Center in McAllen on April 22, 2021.

“The Villalobos Law Center leases office space to five attorneys, a construction company, a Computer Tech, and an accountant,” Villalobos said in the statement. “Today around 10:00 a.m., federal agents searched the office of one of the attorneys unrelated to the Law Office of Javier Villalobos, P.C. No other tenant affiliated with the Villalobos Law Center is connected to the search in any way.”

5 Comments

  1. Dennis on April 23, 2021 at 5:23 am

    Domino’s
    Democrats 🤣

  2. Catalina Garcia on April 23, 2021 at 2:37 pm

    Hope this does not in any way hurt Javier Villalobos. He is my attorney and is a straight arrow. He deserves to be the next mayor of McAllen because McAllen residents deserve the best. He’s been a great commissioner and will make a great Mayor. He’s family is humble and they’re great.

  3. Pablo Bonilla on April 24, 2021 at 3:32 am

    I am in total agreement with Miss Garcia we need a humble person to lead are city, will be praying that all works out for the good Mr Villalibos God bless you guys.

  4. Former RGV LEO on April 24, 2021 at 10:33 am

    Anytime the Feds come knocking on your door, something isn’t right! Well, let’s see what looking under the rocks will discover?

  5. Bob Martinez on April 25, 2021 at 11:31 am

    Hmmmmm … sounds fishy.
    They’ll find what there looking for.
    “Tell me who you hang out with and that tells me who you are”

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