Meet Armando Villalobos


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More than 17 years total legal experience handling a diverse civil and criminal litigation and appellate caseload including over 6 years as the elected County and District Attorney, over 4 years experience as an Assistant District Attorney, and over 4 years as a contract Public Defender for defendants charged with felony offenses.

A skilled bilingual communicator and problem solver; able to produce and deliver complex information to diverse audiences; able to resolve simple and complex issues dealing with interdepartmental issues in budgeting, personnel, case management, and trial strategies.

A native of San Benito, Armando and his wife, Yolanda, reside in Brownsville, Texas where they raise their two children, support their public schools and volunteer with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Yolanda recently graduated from medical school and is preparing to take her board exams.

Able to successfully handle multiple projects, administrative issues, legal issues, and community outreach issues simultaneously.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AS COUNTY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY

ADMINISTRATIVE

  • Manage Office of over 100 employees, and a budget of approximately $6 Million
  • Savings of $1 Million a year to local taxpayers
  • Instituted a "Fast Track" system of case submissions by police agencies
  • Instituted a uniform Pre-Trial Diversion Program that gives automatic qualifications to offenders that meet the guidelines, regardless of socio-economic background, race, gender, social status, or other factor
  • Reduction of turnover rate for Assistant District Attorneys creating a stable and consistent prosecutorial team
  • Encouraged new technology to create a "greener" office that is more environmentally friendly, including recycling
  • Implemented an E-Subpoena computer system which allows the District Attorney's Office to electronically subpoena law enforcement personnel through the County decreasing the amount of manual labor and costs associated with the prosecution of submitted cases.
  • Instrumental in the creation of the County Magistrates, including the assignment of an Assistant District Attorney to review submitted cases at the probable cause hearings and to handle recently arrested offenders, creating savings to the County Jail System in the release of low level offenders on proper bonds and/or the dismissal of defendants upon which probable cause does not exist and placing emphasis on detainment of dangerous offenders.
  • Assignment of Assistant District Attorneys as liaisons to each police agency in County to respond to concerns, problem situations, training requests and legal support
  • Creation of Personnel and Department Specific Policy Manuals for all Divisions of District Attorney's Office—Detailing Attorney and Staff Conduct and Investigator Procedures
  • Enhanced the security of District Attorney's Office, case files, and computer systems
  • Worked with and/or Assigned Agents to: Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, Secret Service, Constables, Texas Department of Public Safety, Sheriff's Department, Texas Rangers, Coast Guard, City Police Departments, Park Rangers, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and other State and Federal law enforcement agencies
  • Instituted criminal background checks and random drug testing for all employees of District Attorney's Office
  • Reorganization of support staff, with emphasis in recruitment and retention of degreed professionals, creating stand alone sections within the District Attorney's Office allowing for increased efficiency in case preparation and prosecution of individual cases
  • Reorganization of office hierarchy creating administrative specific personnel and courtroom specific personnel
  • Enhancement of stability and quality of Juvenile Prosecutions and instituted pro-active presentations of crime prevention in local schools
  • Creation of the Domestic Violence Unit
  • Creation of the Environmental Crimes Unit
  • Expanded the Crime Victims Unit and its services to the community
  • Creation of the White Collar Crime Unit
  • Joined the Auto Crime Tasks Force
  • Creation of the Special Operations Group, specializing in the eradication and disruption of criminal enterprises dealing with narcotics, illegal gambling, organized crime, and gang related violence, apprehension of fugitives, and financial crimes
  • Creation of District Attorney's Office Top Ten Wanted List, listing courtroom absconders and increased activity to apprehend such fugitives
  • Participation and supporter of Child Advocacy Center, the Child Fatality Review Team, and education of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program
  • Reorganization of intake procedures, creating a multi-team approach to Grand Jury presentation, review of submitted cases, case preparation and an increase in time and effort to individual cases
  • Reorganization of staff to provide a dedicated Assistant District Attorney to the 11 Justice of the Peace Courts located in the County
  • Reorganization of support staff, with emphasis in recruitment and retention of degreed professionals, creating stand alone divisions within the office for efficiency

COURT ROOM

  • Success rate of all cases prosecuted of over 99%
  • Office handles approximately 16,000 new cases a year
  • Responsible for cases in 8 District Courts, 3 Misdemeanor Courts, 1 Juvenile Court, 1 Child Protective Services Court, 11 Justice of the Peace Courts, 1 Mental Health Court, the Appellate Courts, and matters that fall in the Civil Courts affecting the County and/or the District Attorney's Office
  • Hands on Supervisor, in all facts of prosecution with experience in Arguing Motions, Voir Dire, Jury Trials of Misdemeanor and Felony Cases, Grand Jury Presentation, Trial Preparation, and Office trainings
  • Increased Asset Forfeiture Proceedings/Revenues
  • Successful investigation and prosecution of illegal gambling, organized crime, financial crimes, public integrity crimes, and environmental crimes, in addition to wide array of cases normally handled by District Attorney's Office
  • Aggressive Prosecution of Violent Offenders and Sexual Predators (some recent examples):
    • Melissa Lucio, Capital Murder, Death Penalty Assessed
    • Manuel Velez, Capital Murder, Death Penalty Assessed
    • John A. Rubio, Capital Murder, Death Penalty Assessed
    • Alfonso Granados-Lucas Murder, Life Sentence
    • Angela Camacho, Capital Murder, 3 Life Sentences
    • Jorge Arrellano, Intoxication Manslaughter, 4 Life Sentences
    • Arturo Rodriguez, Murder, Life
    • Jose Miguel Vasquez, Jr., Murder, Life
    • Javier Chavez, Murder, Life
    • Francisco Gonzalez, Murder, Life
    • Raul Coronado, Jr., Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 7 Life Sentences
    • Norberto A. Lucio, White Collar Crime, 235 Years Total
    • Abraham Mar, Attempted Capital Murder, 101 Years Total
    • James E. Pearson, 2 Counts Intoxication Manslaughter, 100 Years Total
    • Gilberto A. Lucio, White Collar Crime, 100 Years Total
    • Martin A. Lucio, White Collar Crime, 80 Years Total
    • Sergio Gonzales, Aggravated Assault on Peace Officer, 77 Years Total
    • Adrian P. Contreras, Murder, 77 Years Total
    • Miguel A. Alvarado, Aggravated Robbery, 70 Years Total
    • Cecilio Mendoza, Attempted Capital Murder, 62 Years Total
    • Luis Carlos Mares, Murder, 60 Years Total
    • Israel Avila, Murder, 40 Years Total
    • Jesus De Leon, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 50 Years Total
    • Alberto Lopez, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 45 Years Total
    • Jose M. Lopez, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 32 ½ Years Total
    • Charles Ruth III, Burglary of a Habitation, Aggravated Assault, 35 Years Total
    • Jessie James Rodriguez, Murder, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, 40 Years Total
    • Juan M. Hinojosa, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 40 Years Total
    • Rodolfo O. Duran, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 40 Years Total
    • Richard Hernandez, Murder, 35 Years Total
    • Juan M. Rivera, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 25 Years Total

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Juris Doctorate, 1993
Southern Methodist University School of Law
Dallas, Texas

Bachelor of Arts - Economics, 1990
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas

Salutatorian, 1986
San Benito High School
San Benito, Texas

Numerous CLE's and Trainings in Criminal, Civil and Juvenile Law Subject Matters

PRE-COUNTY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY PROFESSIONAL WORK HISTORY
Law Office of Armando R. Villalobos, Brownsville
General Practice with Emphasis on Criminal Defense, Including the Contract
Public Defender for the 404th and 357th Judicial District Courts.

Cameron County District Attorney's Office, Brownsville
First Chair Juvenile Prosecutor, First Chair Felony Prosecutor for the 357th
Judicial District Court, and Felony Intake Prosecutor.

Lucio & Villalobos, Dallas
Lucio & Villalobos, Dallas
Criminal Defense, and Business Litigation

Cameron County District Attorney's Office, Brownsville
Drug Impact Court, Prosecution of Felony Narcotic and Asset Forfeiture Cases

Manchee & Associates, Dallas
General Litigation, bankruptcy cases on behalf of the Debtor, General Estate
Planning, General Counsel for Small Business Entities

PRE-PROFESSIONAL WORK HISTORY
North Texas Legal Aid, Dallas
Law Clerk

The Jewelry Repair Center, Dallas
Sales and Repairs

Law Office of Luis Avila, Dallas
Law Clerk

Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, Austin
Project Assistant for Corporate Division

Big State Pawn/Cash America, Austin
Sales and Repairs

Goldmaster's, Austin
Sales and Repairs

Sears Jewelry Department, Austin
Sales and Repairs

Alexandre's Jewelry, San Benito
Sales and Repairs

PUBLICATIONS AND COMMUNITY SPEAKING

  • Cited under CLE/Other Legal Publications, §54.01 Detention Hearings, Texas Family Code Annotated, Sampson and Tindall's, Austin 2001 Edition, West Group Publication.
  • Speaker at 12th Annual Juvenile Law Conference, February 1999
  • District Attorney's Office Domestic Violence Unit's Petals on the Lake, October 2008
  • Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce July 2008
  • Valley Baptist Medical Center Forensic Conference, November 2006
  • Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil, October 2006
  • NINOS Head Start Week of the Child Reading Program 2005
  • Numerous Career Days and In School Presentations throughout County 2001-Present
  • Numerous Presentations to Rotary Clubs and Individual City Groups such as Police and Firefighters Unions
  • Annual participant at Brownsville's Boo at the Zoo Halloween Event, 2004-Present
  • Participation in National Police Memorial Services at Texas State Technical College and with the City of Harlingen Police Department
  • Annual District Attorney's Office Sword and Shield Gala (Benefiting Palmer Drug Abuse Program 2006, The Cameron County Child Welfare Board's Rainbow Room 2007, Friendship of Women and Family Crisis Center 2008, Cameron County Juvenile Probation Department 2009, Communities in School and Sunshine Haven, Inc. 2010)
  • Annual District Attorney's Office Crime Victims Expo, April 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Annual District Attorney's Office Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention 5K Run
  • 2nd Annual Conference on Violence Against Women 2011, Keynote Speaker
  • San Benito Annex Building Dedication Ceremony, Guest Speaker 2011
  • Texas Victim Services Association (TVSA) 12th Annual Conference 2011, Keynote Speaker
  • Creation of the Environmental Crimes Unit
  • Expanded the Crime Victims Unit and its services to the community
  • Creation of the White Collar Crime Unit
  • Joined the Auto Crime Tasks Force
  • Creation of the Special Operations Group, specializing in the eradication and disruption of criminal enterprises dealing with narcotics, illegal gambling, organized crime, and gang related violence, apprehension of fugitives, and financial crimes
  • Creation of District Attorney's Office Top Ten Wanted List, listing courtroom absconders and increased activity to apprehend such fugitives
  • Participation and supporter of Child Advocacy Center, the Child Fatality Review Team, and education of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program
  • Reorganization of intake procedures, creating a multi-team approach to Grand Jury presentation, review of submitted cases, case preparation and an increase in time and effort to individual cases
  • Reorganization of staff to provide a dedicated Assistant District Attorney to the 11 Justice of the Peace Courts located in the County
  • Reorganization of support staff, with emphasis in recruitment and retention of degreed professionals, creating stand alone divisions within the office for efficiency

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS, RECOGNITIONS

  • Licensed to Practice in the State of Texas, Texas Supreme Court, November 1993
  • Licensed to Practice in the Northern District of Texas, US District Court, January 1994
  • Licensed to Practice in the Southern District of Texas, US District Court, April 1998
  • Member of State Bar of Texas, South Texas HIDTA, Cameron County Bar Association, and Texas District and County Attorney's Association
  • Arbor Day Foundation, Sierra Club, and various other Environmental Organizations
  • Founder of District Attorney's Office Sword and Shield, In House Civic and Charitable Organization
  • Rio Grande Valley, Boy Scouts of America Board Member
  • Texas Child Fatality Review Board Member
  • Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council - Criminal Justice Advisory Committee Board Member
  • Cameron County Children's Advocacy Centers, Inc. Board Member
  • National Hispanic Institute's Distinguished Alumnus Award for service to the Latino Community in 2007
  • Texas Association Against Sexual Assault – Harold Cottle Justice Award 2009
  • Brownsville Herald Newspaper Best Attorney by the Readers 2006 and 2008
  • Harlingen Valley Morning Star Newspaper Best Attorney by the Readers 2010
  • Friendship of Women Recognition Award 2006
  • Friendship of Women Appreciation Award 2010
  • Friendship of Women Volunteer Appreciation Award 2010
  • Brownsville Police Department Recognition Award by 2009
  • The Children's Advocacy Centers, Inc. Appreciation Award 2008
  • The Residents of Spanish Assisted Living Certificate of Appreciation 2010
  • Cameron County Child Management for Week of the Young Child Certificate of Appreciation 2005
  • San Benito Consolidated Independent School District National Honor Society Certificate of Appreciation 2005
  • Brownsville Independent School District James Pace High School – Career & Technology Education Career Fair Certificate of Appreciation 2010
  • Kids Voting USA Certificate of Appreciation 2010
  • San Benito High School, Certificate of Appreciation 2010

PERSONAL

  • Married for over 19 years-wife BA UT at Austin, Current Student in Medical School
  • Father of two
  • Father-Retired US Army current licensed Private Investigator, Mother-Homemaker/Retail Sales, Brother-US Army 2nd Tour in Iraq, Brother-Police Officer, Sister-Teacher, Sister-College Student, Sister-HR Department of Automaker, Grandparents-Small Business Owners
  • Rio Grande Valley Native
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