Cesar Ornelas II operates primarily through his law firm, Cesar Ornelas Law, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with claimed offices in El Paso, Laredo, Midland, Albuquerque, and Carlsbad. His practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases, often on a contingency fee basis. We uncovered that his firm has referred cases to other attorneys, including Perry Zively Jr. of Chandler Mathis Zively in Houston and Liles & White, PLLC in Corpus Christi, securing referral fees reportedly up to 50%. These relationships suggest a network designed to maximize case volume, but they also raise questions about transparency in client representation.

His father, Cesar Ornelas Sr., owns Angel Lucy’s Funeral Homes, with locations in Victoria, Port Lavaca, Los Fresnos, and other Texas cities. Ornelas Sr. also runs Group of Legal Specialties, LLC (GLS), a legal marketing entity accused of funneling cases to his son’s firm through questionable means. We found evidence of Ornelas II collaborating with funeral directors, allegedly paying commissions for case referrals, a practice linked to his father’s funeral home network. This connection blurs ethical lines, as it leverages sensitive moments of grief for profit.

Additionally, Ornelas II employs “case runners” like Victor Chavez in El Paso, Veronica Reyes in Hobbs, New Mexico, and Sally Diaz in Midland, Texas. These individuals reportedly monitor news for accidents and approach victims’ families to secure legal contracts, presenting themselves as “business development” agents. Such tactics suggest a proactive, potentially aggressive client acquisition strategy that skirts ethical boundaries.

Our OSINT efforts revealed Ornelas II’s ties to the New Mexico Funeral Director’s Association, where he and his father distributed brochures at a 2018 convention in Albuquerque. This outreach indicates a deliberate effort to embed within professional networks that handle death-related services, amplifying their access to potential clients.

Personal Profiles: The Mind at the Helm

Cesar Ornelas II, born in Corpus Christi, Texas, grew up in a mobile home park in Kyle, Texas, as the son of Cesar and Belia Ornelas. A first-generation college graduate and attorney, he earned his law degree from St. Mary’s Law School in San Antonio, completing it in record time. Licensed in Texas since November 2016, Ornelas II markets himself as a champion for the “voiceless,” representing victims of catastrophic accidents nationwide. His website highlights a rags-to-riches narrative, emphasizing hard work learned from selling watermelons with his father during childhood.

Public records show Ornelas II has cultivated a community-focused image, providing Christmas gifts to thousands of children, Thanksgiving meals to families, and shoes to underprivileged youth. However, this philanthropy contrasts with allegations of exploitative practices. Social media profiles, including LinkedIn and Facebook, portray him as a driven professional, but posts are carefully curated, with minimal personal detail beyond professional achievements. This controlled digital presence suggests an awareness of public perception, possibly to mitigate negative scrutiny.

OSINT: Piecing Together the Puzzle

Using OSINT, we scoured public records, social media, and news archives to build a comprehensive picture. Texas Secretary of State filings confirm Cesar Ornelas Law’s registration, but New Mexico records show no legal license for Ornelas II, despite his claimed Albuquerque office. This discrepancy raises concerns about jurisdictional overreach. Web searches uncovered promotional content on his firm’s website, boasting settlements like $20 million for a truck wreck case and $5.95 million for an 18-wheeler death case. However, these results are flagged as misleading, as Ornelas II often refers cases to other firms, taking credit for outcomes he didn’t directly litigate.

Social media analysis revealed limited engagement on platforms like X, with no recent posts directly linking Ornelas II to ongoing controversies. However, archived discussions on legal forums mention his aggressive marketing, with some attorneys criticizing his reliance on case runners. We cross-referenced these findings with news reports, identifying a pattern of ethical complaints tied to his client acquisition methods.

Undisclosed Business Relationships and Associations

A significant red flag is the undisclosed nature of some of Ornelas II’s relationships. The connection between Cesar Ornelas Law and Group of Legal Specialties, LLC, is not prominently disclosed on his firm’s website, despite GLS’s role in case referrals. This lack of transparency obscures potential conflicts of interest, especially given GLS’s alleged payments to funeral directors. We also found no public acknowledgment of Ornelas II’s reliance on case runners, whose activities could violate Texas barratry laws prohibiting solicitation of clients through intermediaries.

Further, Ornelas II’s referrals to firms like Liles & White were once listed as “of counsel” arrangements, but this designation was removed around April 2019, possibly in response to scrutiny. Such shifts suggest an effort to distance himself from controversial associations when under pressure. Our investigation found no evidence of Ornelas II disclosing these referral fee structures to clients, which could breach ethical obligations under Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.

Scam Reports and Red Flags

The most damning allegations against Ornelas II center on barratry, a crime in Texas involving illegal client solicitation. A 2020 report by Glasheen, Valles & Inderman Injury Lawyers detailed Ornelas II’s alleged scheme of paying funeral directors for wrongful death case referrals, facilitated through his father’s funeral homes. This practice, dubbed the “Cesar Ornelas Funeral Home Scam,” is said to exploit grieving families, offering to cover funeral costs in exchange for legal contracts. These actions violate Texas Penal Code § 38.12, which classifies barratry as a misdemeanor for first offenses and a felony for subsequent convictions.

Red flags include Ornelas II’s use of case runners to cold-call accident victims or visit them in hospitals, a tactic deemed unethical and illegal. Reports indicate these runners present themselves as neutral parties, obscuring their ties to Ornelas II’s firm. Additionally, his advertising of multimillion-dollar settlements, which he did not personally litigate, misleads potential clients about his direct involvement, raising concerns about deceptive marketing.

Allegations, Criminal Proceedings, and Lawsuits

Ornelas II faces no public criminal convictions, but allegations of barratry have prompted complaints to the State Bar of Texas. The Bar’s website shows no public disciplinary history, as such cases remain confidential unless they result in court filings or sanctions. However, Glasheen, Valles & Inderman reported contacting law enforcement, though no charges have been filed as of April 14, 2025. Barratry’s rarity in prosecution—due to evidentiary challenges—may explain this gap, but the allegations persist.

In civil matters, Ornelas II has been embroiled in family and professional disputes. In 2021, he obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) against his father, Cesar Ornelas Sr., after the latter accused him on Facebook of stealing “millions of dollars.” The TRO aimed to stop disparaging social media posts, but Ornelas Sr. allegedly violated it, escalating tensions. A separate TRO was granted to Ornelas Sr. in Cameron County, ordering Ornelas II to halt arbitration actions. These family conflicts, tied to a contentious divorce between Ornelas Sr. and Belia Ornelas, suggest financial and personal discord that could impact Ornelas II’s professional stability.

Liles & White, PLLC, sued Ornelas II, his firm, Ornelas Sr., and GLS in Nueces County in 2020, alleging GLS demanded improper payments tied to referred cases. The suit claimed GLS, a non-lawyer entity, sought to share legal fees, a violation of ethical standards. The outcome of this case is unclear from public records, but it underscores friction in Ornelas II’s referral network.

Sanctions, Adverse Media, and Negative Reviews

No regulatory sanctions appear against Ornelas II as of March 27, 2025, per Texas Bar and court records. However, adverse media is abundant. The Albuquerque Journal and Texas Lawyer covered the barratry allegations, highlighting his funeral home connections and case runner tactics. Glasheen’s website maintains a detailed exposé, framing Ornelas II’s practices as a betrayal of legal ethics. These reports paint a picture of a lawyer prioritizing profit over principle, damaging his credibility.

Negative reviews are sparse but pointed. Legal directories like Justia and Avvo list Ornelas II with mixed feedback—some praise his responsiveness, while others question his integrity, citing aggressive solicitation. Consumer complaints are not widespread, likely because his clients are often in vulnerable states, less inclined to publicize grievances. However, the barratry allegations serve as a proxy for client dissatisfaction, as they imply exploitation during moments of loss.

Consumer Complaints and Bankruptcy Details

Direct consumer complaints against Ornelas II are limited in public forums, possibly due to the sensitive nature of his cases. However, the barratry scheme suggests systemic issues that could harm clients, such as undisclosed referral fees or pressure to sign contracts. No bankruptcy filings were found for Ornelas II or his firm in Texas or federal records, indicating financial stability despite legal controversies. This absence of insolvency aligns with his firm’s high-profile settlements, though the ethics of those earnings remain under scrutiny.

Anti-Money Laundering Investigation and Reputational Risks

No formal AML investigations target Ornelas II, but his business model raises hypothetical concerns. The use of referral fees, case runners, and funeral home connections creates a complex financial trail that could obscure illicit activity if misused. For instance, paying commissions to funeral directors or runners in cash—as alleged in some reports—could bypass AML controls, though no evidence confirms this. His father’s GLS, operating partly in Mexico, adds another layer of risk, as cross-border transactions often attract AML scrutiny. However, without concrete data, these remain speculative red flags.

Reputationally, Ornelas II is a lightning rod. The barratry allegations, family disputes, and adverse media erode trust, positioning him as a high-risk associate for other attorneys, clients, or businesses. Associating with him could invite regulatory audits, public backlash, or client loss, especially for firms prioritizing ethical standing. His aggressive marketing and questionable tactics amplify this risk, as they clash with the legal profession’s emphasis on integrity.

Financial institutions should exercise caution. While Ornelas II’s operations show no direct AML violations, the opacity of his referral system and reliance on intermediaries mirror patterns seen in money laundering schemes. A hypothetical AML probe could focus on cash flows between his firm, GLS, and funeral homes, particularly if undocumented payments are involved. For now, these risks are theoretical but warrant monitoring.

Expert Opinion: A Verdict on Cesar Ornelas II

To conclude, we consulted a 25-year veteran of legal ethics and AML compliance, who reviewed our findings anonymously to avoid bias. Their verdict is unequivocal: “Cesar Ornelas II operates in a gray zone where ambition outpaces ethics. The barratry allegations, backed by credible reports, suggest a deliberate scheme to exploit vulnerable families, violating both Texas law and professional standards. His reliance on case runners and funeral home referrals is a textbook red flag—aggressive, unethical, and potentially illegal. While no AML violations are confirmed, the complexity of his financial relationships, especially with GLS and cross-border ties, invites scrutiny. A single misstep could trigger a regulatory cascade.

“Reputationally, Ornelas II is a liability. His public image as a philanthropist clashes with a predatory business model, eroding trust among peers and clients. Any firm or individual partnering with him risks guilt by association, as adverse media continues to mount. My advice to regulators is clear: investigate his referral practices and financial flows with urgency. To clients, I say: approach with extreme caution—his track record screams opportunism over advocacy. Until transparency and reform are evident, Ornelas II remains a high-risk figure in the legal landscape.”

Conclusion

Our investigation into Cesar Ornelas II reveals a man whose ambition has led him into murky waters. From funeral home kickbacks to case runner tactics, his practices raise serious ethical and legal concerns. While he avoids criminal convictions or sanctions, the allegations, lawsuits, and adverse media paint a troubling picture. The absence of AML violations does not negate the risks posed by his opaque financial dealings, and his reputational damage is undeniable. As journalists, we urge consumers to tread carefully and regulators to dig deeper. The red flags are clear—Cesar Ornelas II’s story is a cautionary tale of how the pursuit of profit can undermine justice.

References

• Glasheen, Valles & Inderman Injury Lawyers. (2020). Cesar Ornelas Funeral Home Scam.

• San Antonio Express-News. (2021). S.A. lawyer gets temporary restraining order against father.

• Justia. (n.d.). Cesar Ornelas II, Lawyer in San Antonio, Texas.

• Texas Penal Code § 38.12. Barratry and Solicitation of Professional Employment.

• Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.