In re Manuel J. Barraza

On April 23, 2012, the Board of Disciplinary Appeals signed a final judgment of disbarment against El Paso attorney Manuel J. Barraza, 57, State Bar of Texas Card No. 01805270. Barraza did not answer or appear. On October 22, 2010 the Board of Disciplinary Appeals signed an interlocutory order suspending Mr. Barraza from the practice of law pending the appeal of his conviction. On or about June 1, 2010, Barraza was found guilty of two counts of wire fraud and deprivation of honest services in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§1343 and 1346 and one count of making a material false statement as to a matter within the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, an agency of the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1001, Intentional Crimes as defined in the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, in case number EP-09-CR-978-FM, styled, United States of America v. Manuel Joseph Barraza aka Manny Barraza, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division. Barraza was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $15,000.00 and to pay an assessment of $300.00. Barraza appealed the conviction and on September 30, 2011 the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the criminal conviction and issued its mandate. The conviction is final and Barraza is disbarred.