Convicted former El Paso County judge Luther Jones at halfway house

April 11--Convicted former El Paso County Judge and former state Rep. Luther Jones has been released from federal prison and is at a halfway-house in the Houston area, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Jones, 68, who was a central figure in El Paso's public corruption scandal, is scheduled to be released on July 9, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Jones had previously been an inmate at the Florence Correctional facility, about 90 miles south of Denver.

Jones, a longtime lawyer and former political power broker, was convicted in 2011 of taking part in a conspiracy to rig a contract to digitize county records. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, deprivation of honest services and other federal charges. He was sentenced to six years in federal prison.

In 2012, Jones pleaded guilty in a scheme to steer $100 million in health insurance business to El Paso County and area schools. He received a cut of the Ysleta Independent School District's legal fees as part of the scam. Jones was sentenced to five years in prison in the case. The sentence was to be served at the same time as the 2011 conviction.

Jones was a state representative in the Texas Legislature from 1973 to 1981. He was elected El Paso County attorney in 1984 and stepped down to run for county judge, a position that he held from 1986 to 1990. During his term as the county government's top executive, Jones was instrumental in the construction of the $60 millionEl Paso County Courthouse at 500 E. San Antonio

In 2013, the State Bar of Texas disbarred Jones following his convictions.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at 546-6102.

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