Former State Representative Josh Zepnick Concedes In The Milwaukee County Supervisor 12th District Race To Self-proclaimed Anti-cop Socialist Juan Miguel Martinez

Martinez defeated Zepnick by a 17 vote margin on Tuesday's election for Milwaukee County 12th District Supervisor.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 8, 2022

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Friday, former State Representative Josh Zepnick, 54, confirmed to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that he has conceded and accepted the defeat by Juan Miguel Martinez, 37, a self-proclaimed anti-cop socialist who won the Milwaukee County Supervisor 12th District race on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 by a margin of 17 votes.

Martinez received 1,780, 50.24% of the vote and Zepnick received 1,763, 49.76% of the vote on Tuesday.

Martinez ran on a platform to defund the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and was endorsed by the Milwaukee Democratic Socialists of America, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Voces de la Frontera Action, Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, Wisconsin Family Working Party, Milwaukee Area Service & Hospitality Workers Organization and the Black Leaders Organizing for Communities.

Martinez in April 2021 during an interview with Mr. Nice Guy confessed that when he was 20 years old, he and three other friends while in Mexico City assaulted a police officer in Mexico and his friend stole his badge and wore it all night while drinking at a bar.

He also posted on his Facebook (FB) account that the Republican Party should be aborted and called a police officer "pig". On March 23, 2021, Martinez posted, "...fuck the Democrats. Same bullshit as the Republicans" regarding to the temporary ICE processing facilities of undocumented immigrants under the Biden administration. In January 11, 2017, Martinez posted on FB, "Mexican word of the day: Fuck..."

Martinez also favors the Fidel Castro communist regime in Cuba.

Martinez will become the second Socialist on the Milwaukee County Board, the other known Socialist is Ryan Clancy who was reelected to the Milwaukee County Board in District 4.

During the Milwaukee County Supervisor Redistricting process, Supervisor Clancy opposed the creation of the majority Hispanic 12th County Supervisor District that Martinez won in and Voces de la Frontera never submitted or advocated support for the creation of the current 12th County Supervisor District because they supported Clancy at the time and didn't want to oppose him. Eventually, Milwaukee County Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez pushed for the creation of a majority Hispanic voting-age population for the District and Clancy later voted in favor with the unanimous vote by the Milwaukee County Board to approve the Milwaukee County Supervisor Redistricting maps, according to Milwaukee County Legistar records.

49-year-old Ruben Cardenas Jr., A Former Milwaukee Cop Charged With Two Felony Counts For 2nd-degree Sexual Assault Of A Child

Cardenas Jr. is allegedly accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl on Sunday.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 6, 2022

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, Ruben Cardenas Jr., 49, a former intelligence officer with the Milwaukee Police Department Intelligence Fusion Center was charged with two felony counts of 2nd-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 16 in connection with last Sunday's sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. If convicted, Cardenas Jr. is facing up to 40 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines for each count. A cash bail of $30,000 was set for Cardenas Jr. on Wednesday.

Cardenas Jr. retired from the Milwaukee Police Department in February, according to police sources.

According to the criminal complaint, the 13-year-old girl told her family members that Cardenas Jr. has sexually assaulted her at home on Sunday.

Police investigators say that on April 3, both the 13-year-old girl's mother and her boyfriend Cardenas Jr. came home from an evening out. He then walked into the 13-year-old girl's bedroom while she was sleeping in bed and proceeded to lower her shorts and underwear. Cardenas Jr. then penetrated her vagina with his finger and began to rub the outside of her vagina as well. She finched her body and immediately Cardenas Jr. removed his hand and exited the bedroom.

The 13-year-old girl then called a friend about the sexual assault by Cardenas Jr., which she also called her father and two sisters to let them know that she was just sexually assaulted by Cardenas  Jr.

Police arrested Cardenas Jr. and was then taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where a search warrant was executed to perform a DNA swab of Cardenas Jr. hands.

The 13-year-old girl was transported to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to perform a sexual assault examination to collect potential evidence.

Cardenas Jr. was a 26-year and 5 months veteran with the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). He started as a Milwaukee police officer on December 1995 and was assigned to the Milwaukee Police Department Southeastern Wisconsin Threat Analysis Center (MPD Intelligence Fusion Center) in June 2004. In 2011, Cardenas Jr. became a senior intelligence analyst and in March 2016, he became an intelligence officer at MPD.

His next court preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 14, according to court records.

Update: 

On April 14, 2022, Cardenas Jr.'s case was transferred to Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Glenn Yamahiro after a request for substitution of judge was filed by the suspect's attorney. 

Cardenas Jr. remains free after posting bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 16, 2022 at 1:30p.m..

Milwaukee County 12th Supervisor Race In The Southside To Close To Call Between Josh Zepnick And Juan Miguel Martinez

Martinez, candidate for Supervisor in the 12th District remains in the lead on Tuesday night by 17 votes while provisional ballots and overseas ballots get counted on Friday and the election will then be certified by next Tuesday.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 5, 2022

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday night, Juan Miguel Martinez, 37, candidate for Milwaukee County Supervisor 12th District remained in the lead by 17 votes against candidate former State Representative Josh Zepnick, 54. Provisional and overseas ballots for the supervisor race will be counted on Friday, if any will be counted and the election for the 12th Milwaukee County Supervisor District will be certified next Tuesday.

Martinez received 1,780, 50.24% of the vote and Zepnick received 1,763, 49.76% of the vote on Tuesday.

Under State law a recount could be requested, but who would pay for it is still to be debated.

If the total votes fall within a 10 votes margin, then a free recount could be requested by either candidate under State law.

31-year-old Amber Lynn Corrao Charged With The Hit-and-run Death Of Miguel Angel Serrano Santiago, 41, In The Southside Of Milwaukee

Corrao is now wanted by Milwaukee police in connection with the March 25th hit-and-run death of 47-year-old Serrano Santiago.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 5, 2022

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, Amber Lynn Corrao, 31, was charged with one felony count for hit-and-run causing death for the March 25, 2021 vehicular homicide of Miguel Angel Serrano Santiago, 41. A warrant has been issued for Corrao who remains on the run.

If convicted, Corrao is facing up to 25 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines.

On March 25th, Corrao while driving her blue jeep liberty at the 2000 block of W. Grant Street, she struck Serrano Santiago who was on a bicycle and didn't stop to render aid. She then fled the scene. Serrano Santiago died at the scene.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that Serrano Santiago died from blunt force trauma. 

Milwaukee police on March 30 located her jeep in Marinette County with damage to the front of the jeep. The criminal complaint says, that Corrao exited a home near where her jeep was found and told police that the damage was caused from a previous accident. While under questioning by police, she admitted of driving the jeep, but only remembered striking something and didn't stop to investigate. Shortly after, she then changed her story and told police that her boyfriend was driving the jeep on March 25th. Police arrested her boyfriend and police later found that Corrao was the actual driver when the deadly hit-and-run occurred. 

When police went to arrest Corrao for the hit-and-run vehicular homicide in Milwaukee, she had disappeared and a warrant for her arrest was issued.

Cavalier Johnson Elected 45th Mayor Of Milwaukee And Democrat Majority Voters Rejected Robert "Bob" Donovan, A Known Republican Including A Trump Supporter

Johnson defeated Donovan in the City of Milwaukee mayoral race on Tuesday. 

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 5, 2022

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson won the mayoral race and former Alderman Robert "Bob" Donovan, a known Republican and a Trump supporter was rejected by voters. Johnson will serve as the 45th mayor elect for the next two years.

The preliminary vote totals before the early cast ballots and provisional votes get counted. The provisional votes will be counted on Friday, April 8, 2022.

Other election results are to close to call until the early cast ballots are counted later today.

Cavalier Johnson received 62,143 votes, which is 71.69% of the vote.

Donovan received 24,543 votes, which is 28.31% of the vote.

The April 5, 2022 City of Milwaukee elections are nonpartisan, but a majority of voters who do turn out to vote are Democrats.

Texas Former Webb County Precinct 1 Police Constable Rodolfo "Rudy" Rodriguez Jr. Convicted By Feds For Attempt To Entice An Individual To Travel For The Purpose To Engage In Foreign Commerce Involving Prostitution

Rodriguez retired from his Police Constable position in Webb County Precinct 1 in March after getting indicted by feds on February 9. 2022 for attempting to entice an individual to travel in foreign commerce to engage in prostitution.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 3, 2022

Laredo, Texas - On Thursday, March 31, 2022, former Webb County Police Constable Rodolfo "Rudy" Rodriguez Jr., 62, pleaded guilty as a result of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas to one count of attempted attempting to entice an individual to travel in foreign commerce to engage in prostitution. Sentencing for Rodriguez Jr. was scheduled for June 9, 2022.

Rodriguez is facing up to 20 years in a federal prison and up to $250,000 in fines with supervision between five years to life.

Rodriguez Jr. is cooperating with federal prosecutors, according to the federal investigation.

According to the federal indictment Rodriguez Jr. engaged in coercion and enticement of an individual for the purpose of foreign commerce in prostitution activities (from Mexico to the U.S.) between June 1 and September 26, 2019 violating Section 43.02(b) of the Texas Penal Code.

Rodriguez Jr. had been a Webb County Police Constable in Laredo, Texas  in Precinct 1 for at least 17 years and won reelection in 2020 with 57% of the vote.

The Webb County Commission accepted the Rodriguez Jr. resignation on March 28 and Precinct 1 Constable Chief Deputy Claudia Cantu took over Rodriguez Jr.'s command until the next election or a special election is held for the last two remaining years left in Rodriguez Jr.'s term. Rodriguez Jr. term as Constable would have ended on December 31, 2024.

In an unrelated federal indictment in Texas:  On April 1, 2022, the U.S. Attorney's Office of Southern Texas released the following press release, a former deputy with the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Baldemar Cardenas, 36, Mission, admitted that in January 2020, he conspired with members of a drug trafficking organization.  

Members of the group would receive kilogram quantities of highly-pure cocaine. They would then utilize small portions of the drugs to create sham cocaine with very low purity. 

Cardenas would ensure authorities seized the fake bundles. The seizure would allow the co-conspirators to avoid responsibility for stealing the cocaine from their source of supply and allow the distribution of the stolen cocaine for profit. 

In order to further the scheme and in exchange for $10,000, Cardenas provided information to law enforcement in order to effectuate the seizure of the sham bundles. Cardenas falsely claimed a confidential source provided the information. Based on the information he gave, law enforcement seized the multi-kilogram sham bundles of cocaine.

Laboratory testing conducted on the bundles revealed a cocaine purity level of only 1.5%.    

U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 14. At that time, he faces a minimum of five and up to 40 years in prison. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Acting Milwaukee Mayor's Brother 37-year-old Allen Addison Jr. Charged With 1st-degree Reckless Endangering Safety And Felon Possession Of A Firearm

Addison Jr. was taken into custody on Thursday by Milwaukee police for a warrant dated January 19, 2022 when charges were filed for shooting an unarmed victim multiple times.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 1, 2022

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, Allen Addison, 37, the half-brother of Milwaukee Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson was taken into custody and booked at the Milwaukee County Sheriff's jail for one felony count of 1st-degree reckless endangering safety and use of a dangerous weapon and one felony count for possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, Addison is facing up to 25 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines on the first felony count and up to 10 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines for the second felony count with an additional 5 years in prison for use of a dangerous weapon. A cash bail of $25,000 was set for Addison on Friday.

According to the criminal complaint filed in January 2022, Milwaukee police responded to shots fired at the 3500 block of N. 11th Street on January 4, 2022 at around 3:01p.m. When police arrived at the scene, they found a 52-year-old male victim shot multiple times in a parked truck. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries and survived. The victim suffered gunshot wounds to his leg, neck, arm and in the back of his head. 

Police during the investigation learned that Addison and the 52-year-old male victim had gotten into a confrontation when the victim stopped an altercation between Addison and his girlfriend Ashley and Addison threaten to get back at him.

The 52-year-old male victim told police that a Dodge Ram truck with tinted windows and to suspects inside parked beside him and one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired multiple times at the victim.

The Dodge Ram truck was later connected to Addison who drives the same type of truck. When the truck was located, police found multiple spent casings inside.

Addison had been on the run since, January 2022 until Thursday when police took him into custody on an active warrant.

Addison is the half-brother of Milwaukee Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson who is a current candidate for Mayor. To clarify, Johnson is not connected in anyway to this case other than he is related to the suspect.

The other mayoral candidate, former Alderman Robert "Bob" Donovan was video recorded live on Facebook this month by an elderly male victim (Ken Kraucunas) of an alleged criminal physical assault by Donovan at Zebb's Restaurant at S. 27 Street and W. Morgan Ave. in the Southside of Milwaukee. Check out video of mayoral candidate Donovan allegedly assaulting Kraucunas at following link: https://youtu.be/2j83jEyYv0U