Eugene Rodriguez (politician)

Eugene Rodriguez was born on June 4, 1929, in East Harlem, New York City. He attended Straubenmuller Textile High School. He graduated from Long Island University and Brooklyn Law School. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Army. He was admitted to the bar in 1955, and practiced law in New York City.[https://books.google.com/books?id=CfpWAAAAYAAJ&q=straubenmuller New York Red Book] (1965–1966; pg. 208)

Rodriguez was a member of the New York State Assembly (Bronx Co., 4th D.) in 1965.[https://books.google.com/books?id=TFAYJ2dra88C&pg=PA155 South Bronx Rising] by Jill Jonnes (Fordham University Press, 1986, 2002; pg. 155–162; {{ISBN|0-8232-2198-9}}) In September 1965, after re-apportionment, he ran in the 87th District for re-nomination, but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Salvatore R. Almeida.

In 1966, Rodriguez approached ex-convict Louis Fess Taylor to help him quash a narcotics indictment. Rodriguez asked for $100,000 and promised to fix the case. Taylor talked to the D.A.'s office about the offer, and at the next meetings carried a recording device. On July 27, Rodriguez was indicted for attempted extortion.[https://www.nytimes.com/1966/07/28/archives/democratic-nominee-held-in-plot-to-fix-bronx-case-plot-to-fix.html Democratic Nominee Held In Plot to Fix Bronx Case] in The New York Times on July 28, 1966 (subscription required) On November 8, Rodriguez was elected to the New York State Senate (29th D.), but he did not take his seat in the 177th New York State Legislature. His trial opened on December 12.[https://www.nytimes.com/1966/12/13/archives/rodriguez-trial-opens-in-token-after-judge-bars-a-new-delay.html Rodriguez Trial Opens in Token After Judge Bars a New Delay] in The New York Times on December 13, 1966 (subscription required) He asked his chauffeur Antonio Maldonado and one José Sierra to kill Taylor to prevent him from testifying at the trial. On January 13, 1967, Rodriguez was convicted of perjury and attempted grand larceny.[http://www.fultonhistory.com/Process%20small/Newspapers/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Press/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Press%201967%20pdf/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Press%201967%20-%200286.pdf State Senator Found Guilty in Shakedown Plot] in the Utica Daily Press, of Utica, on January 14, 1967 On February 14, he was sentenced to one and a half to four years in jail, and thus vacated his Senate seat.[http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1967/02/15/page/22/article/n-y-politician-is-sentenced N.Y. Politician Is Sentenced] in the Chicago Tribune on February 15, 1967 On February 27, he pleaded guilty to have conspired to murder Taylor.[https://www.nytimes.com/1967/02/28/archives/rodriguez-admits-murder-plot-guilt-rodriguez-guilty-in-murder-plot.html Rodriguez Admits Murder Plot Guilt] in The New York Times on February 28, 1967 (subscription required) On March 2, he was sentenced to one and a half to four years in jail for conspiracy to commit murder, to be served concurrently with the sentence for perjury.[https://www.nytimes.com/1967/03/03/archives/rodriguez-is-given-18-months-in-plot-to-murder-witness.html Rodriguez Is Given 18 Months in Plot To Murder Witness] in The New York Times on March 3, 1967 (subscription required) On April 4, 1967, he was disbarred by the Appellate Division.[http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19670404_0041030.NY.htm/qx MATTER EUGENE RODRIGUEZ] at FindACase He was released from Clinton Correctional Facility on December 24, 1969.[https://www.nytimes.com/1969/12/25/archives/rodriguez-freed.html Rodriguez Freed] in The New York Times on December 25, 1969 (subscription required)[http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/451/730/71344/ Eugene Rodriguez, and the United States of America Ex Rel U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit – 451 F.2d 730 (1971)] at Justia.com

On August 23, 1973, Rodriguez was arrested at his home in the East Village, Manhattan for illegal gambling.[https://www.nytimes.com/1973/08/24/archives/exstate-senator-held-as-gambling-ring-chief-3-others-also-held.html Ex-State Senator Held As Gambling Ring Chief ] in The New York Times on August 24, 1973 (subscription required)

Rodriguez died in Aliso Viejo, California on August 26, 1999, at the age of 70.{{cite web |title=Eugene Rodriguez |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/28477279:60901?tid=&pid=&queryId=d7728d1b-79ae-4fc5-9b7f-4e95afa5e77d&_phsrc=Dqh6928&_phstart=successSource |publisher=U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007 |access-date=4 January 2024}}

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{{succession box | before = Frank Torres | title = New York State Assembly
Bronx County, 4th District | years = 1965 | after = district abolished }}

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{{succession box | before = Manfred Ohrenstein | title = New York State Senate
29th District | years = 1967 | after = Robert García}}

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Category:1929 births

Category:1999 deaths

Category:Democratic Party New York (state) state senators

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in New York (state)

Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly

Category:Long Island University alumni

Category:Brooklyn Law School alumni

Category:Disbarred New York (state) lawyers

Category:People from the East Village, Manhattan

Category:People from East Harlem

Category:Politicians from the Bronx

Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature