BROWNSVILLE — Jury selection in the trial of Joel Luna, a former U.S. Border Patrol agent, is scheduled to begin Jan. 17.
The 31-year old Luna is charged with capital murder for retaliation and organized criminal activity for the murder of Francisco Palacios Paz, a Honduran immigrant.
Paz worked at a tire shop owned by Luna’s brother, Fernando Luna Rodriguez. Paz’s decapitated body was found in March 2015 in the Laguna Madre, authorities said.
Charges originally were filed against Luna and his two brothers, Fernando Luna Rodriguez and Eduardo Luna Rodriguez, but Fernando Luna Rodriguez negotiated a plea deal in exchange for lesser charges and testimony against his family.
The former U.S. Border Patrol agent is alleged to have helped a Mexican cartel move illegal weapons and ammunition south of the border, and aided in shipping illicit drugs to the north. Investigators said texts and phone records provided by Paz’s common-law wife suggested that he was going to reveal the Lunas’ illegal activities to authorities.
Authorities said evidence found in a safe at the house of Luna’s mother-in-law included $90,000 in cash and a kilo of cocaine. Joel Luna and his brother pleaded not guilty to capital murder charges, murder and two counts of engaging in criminal activity in February 2016.
Attempts by Luna’s attorney to have the brothers tried separately were denied by 107 th state District Court Judge Benjamin Euresti.
