The DOJ asked U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Hoyt in the Southern District of Texas to stay his forthcoming dismissal order in the foreign bribery prosecution of Ramon Alexandro Rovirosa Martinez, even before Hoyt has issued the written ruling.
Rovirosa was convicted in December 2025 after a trial that went sideways early: Hoyt blocked the government from introducing most of its evidence until closing argument because the prosecution called no fact witnesses. Last week, the judge signaled he would grant defense motions to dismiss, putting Rovirosa’s conviction in jeopardy.
The DOJ’s motion cites flight risk. Rovirosa has “substantial personal and professional ties to Mexico,” his co-defendant remains a fugitive there, and extradition from Mexico can be “lengthy and may not ultimately be successful.” The government wants the stay pending a potential appeal to the Fifth Circuit, or at minimum 14 days to seek a longer stay from the circuit.
Defense attorney Ryan McConnell was blunt: “Their motion is unlawful, without precedent, and made in bad faith. There is no legal framework to keep an innocent man in a cell. Zero.” McConnell also noted the DOJ doesn’t yet have permission to appeal and hasn’t even read Hoyt’s opinion.
Rovirosa has been in custody since shortly after his December conviction. The next procedural step: Hoyt’s written dismissal order, which starts the clock on whether the government actually appeals to the Fifth Circuit.
James Okafor