Rodrigues The head of one of the state's largest unions defended himself against charges he skimmed $200,000 from two union health benefit plans and arranged payments for consulting fees to companies owned by his daughter.
denies charges of
money laundering,
embezzlement
The UPW director and his
By Debra Barayuga
daughter plead not guilty, and
trial is set for Aug. 28
Star-Bulletin"I want to assure the members of the UPW and the public that I have never stole, embezzled or done anything illegal or involved my daughter in anything illegal," said United Public Workers Director Gary Rodrigues, his voice choked with emotion, as his daughter Robin Haunani Rodrigues Sabatini stood at his side.
Rodrigues and Sabatini both pleaded not guilty yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Leslie Kobayashi to a 43-count indictment filed March 7 by a federal grand jury charging them with multiple charges including conspiracy, embezzlement and money laundering.
While Rodrigues may be guilty of helping his daughters, whom he raised from the time they were infants, he has never done anything illegal to help them, said Doron Weinberg, Rodrigues' San Francisco-based attorney.
Weinberg blasted the U.S. government's tactics over the last three years, saying prosecutors spurned Rodrigues and Sabatini's good-faith efforts to dispute the allegations and refused to tell them what was being investigated.
Weinberg said Rodrigues would never have been targeted for investigation or facing criminal charges if he were not state director of the UPW and a "central" figure in the community.
Four federal government agencies have spent the last three years investigating every rumor, poring over documents and looking for evidence of wrongdoing by Rodrigues, "and all they've come up with is an accusation that a father helped his daughter get a job," Weinberg said.
Had the government discussed the charges with Rodrigues and his daughter, "I think we could have avoided this indictment and the incredible burden it has caused both these defendants," Weinberg said.
Two federal judges recused themselves from overseeing any part of the case to avoid any appearance of conflict.
U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor noted that her husband has appeared before the Judicial Selection Commission while Rodrigues served as a member and will continue to appear before the commission in the future.
U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway noted that Rodrigues has at times been on opposite sides of legislation that affects her spouse's salary.
Rodrigues last week stepped down as member of the Judicial Selection Commission pending the resolution of the case against him. Weinberg said Rodrigues will remain as head of UPW.
Kobayashi set a trial date of Aug. 28 at the defense's request because of the nature and complexity of the case and availability of counsel.
Rodrigues and Sabatini were released after each posted a $50,000 unsecured bond.