Former El Paso County Housing Authority Executive Director Arrested

United States Attorney John E. Murphy, United States Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General Region 6 Special Agent in Charge Herschell Harvell, Jr., and David Cuthbertson, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation-El Paso Division announced the arrest this morning of Tomas Rodriguez, Sr., former El Paso County Housing Authority Executive Director, on federal Government program fraud charges.

A two-count indictment returned this week and unsealed today, alleges that from March 2006 until February 2008, Rodriguez misapplied more than $5,000 in funds belonging to the El Paso County Housing Authority (EPCHA). The indictment specifically alleges that Rodriguez misapplied U.S. Housing and Urban Development subsidies earmarked for EPCHA on apartment units he personally owned, namely the Del Valle Apartments in Fabens, Texas. Rodriguez allegedly paid an EPCHA employee for non-EPCHA related work performed at the Del Valle Apartments and used EPCHA funds to purchase household appliances for units at the Del Valle Apartments.

Upon conviction, Rodriguez faces a maximum of ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine per count.

An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case resulted from an investigation by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development–Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Spitzer is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.