Review Title: Your Rating (1 star is bad, 5 stars is good): Security Code: Your email address (optional): or Cancel
Law Office Of Jerry Rios Reviews
Jerry Rios, a really f****** dishonest lawyer in Austin TX, is getting his a** sued off.
Details follow.
Real estate attorney Jerry Rios is representing himself pro se in the civil matter, but he's hired a
criminal defense lawyer to defend against the seconddegree felony charge of misapplication of
fiduciary property.
Rios' lawyer, Stephen "Steve" Toland, said that Rios is not guilty.
"Any actions taken by Mr. Rios were lawful actions, and he had permission to do those things.
He didn't take any money without anyone's permission. He certainly never stole," said Toland, a
partner in Peek and Toland in Austin.
The July 29, 2014, indictment in the case, Texas v. Rios, said that between 2006 to 2009, Rios
misapplied property that he held as a fiduciary. The misapplication of the money—valued
between $100,000 and $200,000—was contrary to an agreement under which Rios held the
property, said the indictment.
It was done in a manner "that involved substantial risk of loss" to
the owners of the property. Rios diverted the company money to himself, the indictment alleged.
Rudy Magallanes, spokesman for the Travis County District Attorney's Office, which is
prosecuting the felony case, declined to comment.
Rios also declined to comment.
But Toland said that Rios and the property owners in the indictment were involved in separate
civil litigation.
"These are all matters that should be resolved in civil court rather than criminal court," said
Toland. "They don't rise to any criminal actions. We're confident going through all the physical
evidence … it will be clear he didn't break the law."
Toland said that the property owners in the indictment were real estate investors, and Rios
served as a mortgage broker for them. For example, if a person applied for a loan to purchase
real estate, Rios would assist the buyer in securing nontraditional financing through the
investors. Toland said that Rios took the money with permission under an agreement between
the investors and Rios to pay Rios for his broker services.
But after certain investments "did not always work the way they wanted," the investors alleged
that Rios stole or did things without permission—an allegation that Rios denies, Toland said.
But Rios has also contended that the company loaned the money to him, and he made monthly
payments.