# E. Javier Loya

Enrique Javier Loya (born February 2, 1969) is a Mexican-American business entrepreneur, and former college football player. He is a minority owner of the NFL's Houston Texans. Loya is also the co-founder of independent commodity broker OTC Global Holdings.

## Education and family

Loya was raised in El Paso, Texas as the second-youngest of seven children. His father worked at a Farah Manufacturing Co. plant and taught his children to prioritize education. Loya graduated from New York City's Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1991. Loya is married to Lucinda Vincent-Loya. The couple have 2 children.

## Football career

Loya played for the Columbia Lions as a linebacker and a defensive end throughout his academic career at Columbia University. He was a varsity letterman in all three of his varsity seasons and was named an Honorable Mention All-Ivy League Selection in 1990. He is tied with several other players for the fourth-most career fumble recoveries while playing for the Columbia Lions.

## Career
### Choice! Energy LP

In 1994, Loya co-founded Choice! Energy LP with two partners. Choice was an energy brokerage firm specializing in natural gas.
In 2000, Loya purchased control of the company from his partners.
After Texas deregulated the power market in 2002, Loya launched a new firm, Choice Energy Services. As the sole owner of Choice Energy Services, Loya expanded the company's services from wholesale markets to retail commodities management.
In 2015, Loya's company, Choice Energy, filed a lawsuit against 9 of their brokers for breach of contract. The 9 brokers filed a countersuit claiming they were forced to resign due to unpaid commissions and hostile work environment. All but one broker settled out of court.

### Houston Texans

In 2002, Loya became the first Hispanic owner in the NFL after he purchased a minority stake in the Houston Texans. Loya was one of 10 investors in the Houston Texans. Loya is notable for his role in promoting diversity within the NFL. As a member of the NFL’s diversity committee, he has been instrumental in developing and recommending DEI policies aimed at increasing minority representation, particularly among head coaches and front office positions. He was one of the original proponents of the Rooney Rule, the NFL's current policy on DEI.
During the Choice Energy lawsuit, Javier was accused of being a high-stakes gambler along with other Choice Energy employees and clients, which sparked an investigation from the NFL due to Javier's ownership of the Houston Texans. According to the NFL Ownership Guidelines, it is a violation for owners or employees of any NFL team to take part in any gambling. It’s unknown how the situation was resolved. Given that Loya continued to serve as a minority owner of the Texans, the allegations presumably were not substantiated.

### OTC Global Holdings

In 2007, Loya co-founded OTC Global Holdings as a commodity brokerage that initially acquired Choice Natural Gas, Choice Power, and Choice Energy. OTCGH is structured as an umbrella organization for almost 20 independent brokerages operating across the global commodity complex in markets including oil, electricity, natural gas and refined products. Overall, these companies serve more than 500 institutional clients and transact in hundreds of commodity delivery points across Asia, Europe and the Americas. In 2022, OTC Global Holdings was recognized as 'Broker of the Year' by Energy Risk for the fifth time (2011, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022) and the company claims to be the world's largest independent institutional broker of commodities.

### Veneno Tequila

In September 2019, Loya, his wife Lucinda, and several Houston entrepreneurs launched a tequila brand called Veneno Tequila. Actor Danny Trejo was the first person to introduce and drink a bottle of Veneno Tequila.

### Other activities

Loya has served on the Board of Regents for Texas Southern University as well as other charitable foundations across Houston.

## Philanthropy

Loya is a sponsor and member of the board of directors for the Greater Houston Senior Football Showcase, a charitable organization that organizes high school football scouting events. The organization has provided over $100 million in scholastic aid to over 3,000 participants since 2008.
In 2011, Loya founded the Greater El Paso Football Showcase Combine, which provided over $9 million in scholarships to over 100 high school senior athletes.

## Legal issues
### Litigation

In late December 2019, John Klosek, one of the founding members of OTC Global Holdings, filed a lawsuit against the CEO Javier Loya, COO Joseph Kelly, and several employees. The lawsuit was over extravagant personal spending decreasing the company's value to a negative net worth. Loya and the other accusees denied the allegations. The claims state the defendants have embezzled over millions of dollars from OTC Global Holdings for personal use. The lawsuit was dismissed in May 2021.

### Sexual assault allegations

In August 2023, it was revealed to major media outlets that Loya was charged with one count of first-degree rape, five counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse in May 2023. According to the Texans and the National Football League, Loya has been suspended from team activities since May.
In April 2024, the court issued a resolution where the prosecution dismissed all seven counts. Loya did agree to an Alford plea charging him with 'harassment with intent to annoy', a class B misdemeanor, and paid a $100 fine. To date, Loya maintains his innocence.

## Awards

* In 2002, Loya received the “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award from the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
* In 2004, Loya was named “Hispanic Businessman of the Year” by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
* In 2004, Javier was also given the John Jay Award for distinguished professional achievement by his former university, Columbia University.
* In 2007, Javier received the “Emerging Leader” Award from the Greater Houston Partnership.
* In 2010, Javier received the “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award from Ernst & Young.
* In 2017, Loya was honored as a distinguished graduate by the Ivy Football Association at its bi-annual dinner at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.