BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A wide-ranging federal investigation into judicial corruption in South Texas has swept up a dozen people in a web of bribes and kickbacks with a former state district judge at its center, but one crooked incident in particular stands out for its result: a convicted killer went free.

Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos’ office got a murder conviction and 23-year prison term against Amit Livingston, but federal prosecutors allege he also orchestrated a scheme to line his own pockets that allowed Livingston to escape in 2007.

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