Attorneys for both sides held dueling news conferences in Hidalgo County this week over lawsuits accusing Ramón Ayala Jr. of repeated sexual assault, with Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee speaking for the plaintiffs and McAllen attorney Ray Thomas answering on behalf of Ramón Ayala Jr., Ramón Ayala Sr., and their band. The cases, filed in Hidalgo County courts, involve former members and crew of Ramón Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte and center on allegations about conduct on the band’s tour bus and at other locations on tour. The controversy has drawn national attention given the band’s long history and Grammy recognition, while the legal fight is actively unfolding in South Texas.
In the first of the opposing conferences, Tony Buzbee said he represents three plaintiffs identified as John Doe #1, #2 and #3 and described a pattern of abusive behavior by Ramón Ayala Jr. He said the plaintiffs were former band or crew members and that the complaints were filed in Hidalgo County. According to Buzbee, the allegations include repeated unwanted sexual contact and a hostile, sexually charged environment during the band’s travels.
Buzbee outlined instances he called “egregious horseplay,” alleging Ayala Jr. ran around naked and sexually assaulted sleeping band members, and he said daily drug use, including cocaine, was part of the picture. “These men deserve to be treated with dignity,” Buzbee told reporters, arguing the conduct went beyond jokes or roughhousing. He also suggested the problem was reported up the chain and implicated Ramón Ayala Sr. in failing to act.
On that point Buzbee stated, “No one is suggesting that an 80-year-old man did any of those things, but it was reported to him multiple times,” Buzbee said. “He chose to turn a blind eye because it was his son.” Those remarks framed part of the plaintiffs’ claim that management and family leadership ignored repeated warnings. Buzbee said a fourth man had come forward and that another lawsuit would be filed soon.
John Doe #1 spoke briefly at the press event, describing the impact of the alleged conduct on his life and career. “I loved my job,” the former band member said. “I can no longer be a part of the band anymore, and I’m devastated.”
Buzbee urged other survivors to step forward and referenced a national statistic to stress the broader context of sexual violence. “Every 68 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted,” Buzbee said, framing the call for reporting as part of a larger fight against abuse. He painted the lawsuits as efforts to hold a high-profile figure and his organization to account.
In the afternoon, Ray Thomas held a separate news conference and labeled the claims a “shakedown,” saying the former bandmates are motivated by financial gain rather than truth. Thomas, who is McAllen-based, read from witness interviews and statements he said contradicted the plaintiffs’ version of events. He argued the atmosphere among members of Los Bravos del Norte was familiar, informal and consensual horseplay rather than criminal behavior.
Thomas read a statement from Ruben Carbral, an animator for Los Bravos del Norte, who said the behavior was not harsh and that “we all know each person’s limits and tolerance.” He also read a note from drummer Jose Luis Covarrubias, who described the band as connected like a family and said it was “common for members of the group to play around, joke and interact informally.” Those statements were presented to cast doubt on the allegations of a hostile environment.
Earlier in the week Ramón Ayala Sr. posted a public message expressing confidence that “the truth will ultimately come to light through proper legal process.” The elder Ayala pledged faith in legal procedures while the band and its representatives defended their reputation. Thomas compared the disputed antics to the kind of crude pranks seen on old television shows, framing them as immature but not criminal.
The underlying lawsuit details allege repeated, unwanted sexual contact and a pattern of sexually aggressive comments and behavior, including claims that Ayala Jr. was nude on the bus while allegedly under the influence of cocaine and alcohol. Buzbee said the conduct alleged ranks among the most disturbing he has handled in his career. “I’ve handled some of the largest and most high-profile sexual assault cases in the United States,” Buzbee said. “I’ve never seen the type of conduct alleged in this case.”
The plaintiffs are seeking more than $25 million in damages, and the legal fight is expected to grow as additional claimants come forward, according to Buzbee. Ramón Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte, founded in the early 1970s, is widely regarded as a cornerstone of regional Mexican music and has won multiple Grammy Awards. The band’s legacy and the seriousness of the accusations mean the trials and motions ahead will attract scrutiny from fans and the legal community alike.
