Austin Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal Officer

In Austin today, 21-year-old Candido Rodriguez, III, admitted to assaulting a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officer last month, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs.

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a federal officer.  Rodriguez, who faces up to 20 years in federal prison, remains in federal custody pending sentencing.  No sentencing date has been scheduled.

On November 5, 2019, the victim was driving to work at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport and stopped at a traffic light just before the airport entrance.  According to the factual basis filed in this case, to which Rodriguez admitted in court, Rodriguez approached the victim, who was behind the wheel of the vehicle the driver’s side window open several inches.  The victim was wearing an official TSA uniform with TSA insignia plainly visible.  Rodriguez engaged in a brief verbal exchange with the victim, during which he referred to the victim being an “officer.”  The victim responded by stating that the victim was employed as a security officer at the airport.  Rodriguez then forcibly opened the driver’s side door of the vehicle and began striking, scratching and cutting the victim’s head, face and right hand with a piece of broken glass or other sharp object.

The victim ultimately escaped from Rodriguez by accelerating through the intersection and onto airport property.  A number of stitches were necessary to close cuts on the victim’s face and right hand.

The FBI conducted this investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Buie is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the contributions of the Austin Police Department and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.