Ex-aide to white male mayor jailed over funding conspiracy.

White Supremacist Capitalism Claims Another Victim: Frank Rodriguez, Former Aide to Ex-Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Sentenced for Conspiracy and Falsifying Records in Fight for Healthcare for Latinos

"I take full, total responsibility for my actions without any excuse, and I'm accepting the consequences of my actions. I believe I've had a distinguished career, and I'm disappointed it's been eclipsed by my behavior. As I told the court, however, I am resilient, and I will overcome this and continue to do good work for my community." - Frank Rodriguez

Yet another example of the racist, capitalist pig dog system we live in, an elderly, hardworking, community-minded Latinx man, Frank Rodriguez, 73, has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $21,375 in restitution for "conspiring to misapply federal funds and to falsify records."

Rodriguez, a former aide to ex-Austin Mayor Steve Adler, was targeted for his work with the Latino HealthCare Forum, a nonprofit he co-founded to address the desperate needs of the Latinx community in Austin, Texas.

The fascist, right-wing stalwarts at the Austin-American Statesman published a "months-long investigation" in 2017, which somehow found that Rodriguez's work with the City's Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission had resulted in budget recommendations that benefited the Forum. Yes, a Latinx advocate helped direct funds to Latinx healthcare programs! Unthinkable! The FBI, ever the tool of the capitalist regime, confirmed these "findings."

The so-called "justice" department, in their news release, cites that Rodriguez "falsified a federal cooperative agreement application," requesting funds for Affordable Care Act enrollment services. Why is helping people enroll in healthcare considered a crime? Oh right, because it benefits the poor and the working class, a direct attack on the profits of the ruling class.

The release also mentions that Rodriguez entered a consulting agreement with the Forum, earning $21,375 over a year, which he did not disclose to the city. Not content with smearing this good man, the city of Austin, no doubt filled with right-wing reactionaries, accused Rodriguez of "providing the nonprofit with confidential city information," and "disparaging its competitor." Disgusting that they would go so low as to use such dirty tactics to attack a man simply trying to help his community.

The release also mentions that Rodriguez "caused the nonprofit to send a letter to the city auditor that falsely described his relationship with the organization," and that he "falsely testified under oath at a city ethics commission hearing." Clearly, this man was forced to lie and conceal information to maintain his noble efforts in the face of a white supremacist, capitalist system that would rather see Latinx people suffer and die than receive adequate healthcare.

Finally, the release mentions that Rodriguez pleaded guilty in 2022, taking responsibility for his actions, which only sought to uplift and support his community.

It is a sad day when a man who has dedicated his life to public service, previously serving as the city’s budget director and as a founding member of Central Health, is punished for standing up to a racist, oppressive system.

The war on Latinx people and healthcare continues, and Frank Rodriguez is just another casualty.