Building Fortunes Radio with Scott Johnson and Peter Mingils on Castrogate Coverup
Scott Johnson and Peter Mingils interview the creator of Castrogate.com, John Foddrill Sr. This is a fascinating recount of a former employee who ran telecom for San Antonio Texas.
castrogate.com is a platform dedicated to alleging a widespread, decades-long criminal conspiracy centered in San Antonio, Texas, involving city officials, law enforcement, judges, and other public figures. It claims to expose corruption, fraud, and cover-ups within local government, law enforcement, and judicial systems, particularly focusing on the City of San Antonio, the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), and related entities. The site presents itself as a whistleblower resource, compiling documents, depositions, and testimonies to support its claims of systemic misconduct, including judicial fraud, theft of public funds, and violations of constitutional rights.
Overview and Mission The **Mission Statement** on castrogate.com outlines its purpose: to expose a “RICO-like criminal conspiracy” involving San Antonio city officials, law enforcement, and judicial figures who allegedly conspired to conceal decades of criminal activity. The site accuses key individuals, including City Attorney Michael Bernard, Mayor Julian Castro, Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood, and others, of orchestrating fraud, perjury, and cover-ups to protect corrupt interests. It claims these actions have defrauded taxpayers of tens of millions of dollars through misappropriation, grant fraud, and falsified records, while also undermining public safety, notably through a failing 911 system. The site’s tone is confrontational, positioning itself as a truth-telling platform against entrenched corruption. It alleges that officials, including Michael Bernard (noted as the brother of Obama White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard), have engaged in unconstitutional acts, such as banning whistleblowers from public spaces to silence them. The site references specific events, like a 2009 court case and a 2011 SAPD raid, as pivotal moments in the conspiracy. (https://www.castrogate.com/mission-statement.html)
Key Allegations and Sections
1. Fraud Upon the Court- The site heavily focuses on a 2009 court case in Bexar County’s 57th District Court, presided over by Judge Antonia Arteaga. It alleges that City Attorney Michael Bernard, attorneys Malinda Gaul, Deborah Klein, Mark Kosanovich, City IT Director Hugh Miller, City CIO Richard Varn, and others orchestrated a “well-rehearsed, totally fabricated ‘soap opera skit’” to defraud the court. They allegedly concealed evidence, including Varn’s deposition, Administrative Directive 6.12, and a search warrant for City IT Manager Jose Medina’s bank records, to cover up theft and fraud.
(https://www.castrogate.com/richard-varn.html) – Malinda Gaul is singled out for failing to challenge false testimony or call for a mistrial, despite being paid over $10,000 to expose the cover-up. Her husband, AACOG Director Grant Gaul, is accused of concealing related fraud within AACOG.
(https://www.castrogate.com/hugh-miller.html) – The site claims this fraud extended to Federal Judge Xavier Rodriguez, who allegedly ignored evidence of the conspiracy, including false testimony by Mayor Julian Castro and SAPD Chief William McManus. (https://www.castrogate.com/federal-judge-xavier-rodriguez-scandal.html)
The “Variable” Billing Account: – A central claim is the misuse of an internal telephone billing account, referred to as “the variable,” to siphon up to $5.2 million annually from city, county, state, and federal funds. The site alleges that City IT Manager Jose Medina and vendor Isabel Gonzaba (IG Communications) stole upwards of $200,000 via the City’s Avaya telephone contract. Richard Varn’s false testimony in 2009, claiming the variable was legal for budget balancing, is cited as a key cover-up, contradicting his 2007 deposition where he denied knowledge of it. (https://www.castrogate.com/michael-armstrong.html)
3. HUD Fraud and Theft of Public Funds: – The site accuses officials of HUD fraud, municipal bond fraud, and state/federal grant fraud, with funds misappropriated from departments like Health, Housing, Fire, Police, and 911 services. It claims these actions led to critical 911 system failures, with one in four calls failing over a decade, causing harm and deaths.[](https://www.castrogate.com/hud-fraud.html)[](https://www.castrogate.com/council-on-police-community-relations.html) – Specific documents, like audits and depositions, are referenced as evidence, though the site emphasizes that much of this material has been suppressed by officials.[](https://www.castrogate.com/hugh-miller.html)
4. **AACOG Scandal**: – The Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), a regional planning body, is accused of facilitating money laundering and fraud. In 2014, JPMorgan Chase flagged suspicious activity in AACOG accounts involving Jackqueline Cooper/TriHM, costing $250,000 in taxpayer funds. Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff, AACOG Directors Mike Quinn, Dean Danos, and Grant Gaul, and others allegedly covered up the scandal to protect long-term corruption. Virginia Quinn, City Municipal Integrity Manager and Mike Quinn’s spouse, is accused of publishing fraudulent reports to conceal crimes. (https://www.castrogate.com/peter-zanoni.html)
5. **SAPD Raid and Whistleblower Suppression**: – On July 4, 2011, an SAPD raid is cited as an attempt to silence whistleblowers. Michael Bernard and Chief McManus allegedly issued unconstitutional criminal trespass warnings, banning whistleblowers from City Hall and public meetings without cause, to suppress evidence of corruption. The site claims these actions violated free speech and constitutional rights.(https://www.castrogate.com/) (https://www.castrogate.com/federal-judge-xavier-rodriguez-scandal.html) – Former City Telecommunications Manager John E. Foddrill Sr. is mentioned as a whistleblower targeted by DA LaHood, who allegedly cyberbullied him on social media to discredit his reports.(https://www.castrogate.com/council-on-police-community-relations.html)
Judicial and Law Enforcement Complicity: – The site accuses multiple figures, including Texas Ranger Hank Whitman, Federal Judge Xavier Rodriguez, and DA Nico LaHood, of complicity in the cover-up. It claims the FBI and DOJ refused to investigate despite receiving evidence. Texas Ranger Bradley Freeman is noted for failing to act on information about AACOG corruption provided in 2014.(https://www.castrogate.com/aacog-scandal.html) (https://www.castrogate.com/hank-whitman.html) – Attorneys Joseph Hoelscher and Dan Moore are accused of failing to pursue an amended lawsuit or evidentiary hearing, instead defaming their client to conceal the conspiracy.
(https://www.castrogate.com/federal-judge-xavier-rodriguez-scandal.html)
7. **Community Impact and “Fake News”**: – The “Council on Police Community Relations” section alleges that city officials, including Mayor Ivy Taylor and Chief McManus, staged a “dog and pony show” in 2016 to mislead the Black community about police reforms while covering up corruption. The site claims the media was banned from these meetings to hide illegal activities. (https://www.castrogate.com/council-on-police-community-relations.html) – A “Fake News” section suggests mainstream media complicity in suppressing the scandal, though specifics are limited.
Key Figures Named – **Michael Bernard**: City Attorney, accused of masterminding the cover-up and issuing illegal trespass warnings.[](https://www.castrogate.com/michael-bernard.html) – **Malinda Gaul**: Attorney who allegedly facilitated judicial fraud; her husband, Grant Gaul, is linked to AACOG fraud.(https://www.castrogate.com/malinda-gaul.html) – Richard Varn: Former City CIO, accused of perjury regarding the “variable” account.[](https://www.castrogate.com/richard-varn.html) – Hugh Miller: City IT Director, implicated in coaching false testimony. (https://www.castrogate.com/hugh-miller.html) – Peter Zanoni: Deputy City Manager, accused of participating in the cover-up. (https://www.castrogate.com/peter-zanoni.html) – **Julian Castro**: Former Mayor and HUD Secretary, linked to fraud and false testimony. (https://www.castrogate.com/) –
Nico LaHood: DA accused of cyberbullying whistleblowers and ignoring evidence.(https://www.castrogate.com/council-on-police-community-relations.html) – Antonia Arteaga: Judge accused of allowing judicial fraud.(https://www.castrogate.com/malinda-gaul.html) – **Kevin Wolff**: Bexar County Commissioner, accused of blocking AACOG investigations.
(https://www.castrogate.com/aacog-scandal.html)
Evidence and Documentation The site claims to host extensive evidence, including depositions, transcripts, audits, and recordings, though specific access to these documents is not detailed in the summary (as the site encourages visitors to explore them directly). It emphasizes suppressed materials, like Varn’s deposition and Administrative Directive 6.12, as proof of perjury and fraud. The “Fraud Upon the Court” chapter is highlighted as a key resource exposing these acts.(https://www.castrogate.com/richard-varn.html) (https://www.castrogate.com/hugh-miller.html)
Critical Analysis The allegations on castrogate.com are serious, accusing high-profile figures of systemic corruption over decades. However, the site’s claims are presented in a polemical style, lacking clear corroboration from independent sources in the provided references. The repeated use of terms like “RICO-like” and “conspiracy” suggests a legal framework, but no specific convictions or official investigations are documented. The site’s focus on specific individuals and events, like the 2009 court case, provides a detailed narrative but raises questions about objectivity, as it relies heavily on the perspective of whistleblowers like John E. Foddrill Sr. The connection to your previous questions (e.g., Urantia Papers, Wendy Valois, CFORTH) is unclear, though the mention of “CFORTH” could be a typo for “castrogate” or unrelated. The site’s privacy-conscious tone (e.g., exposing government overreach) aligns with your earlier queries about avoiding REAL ID, but no direct link is evident. The absence of mainstream media or legal validation of these claims suggests caution in accepting them at face value.
Conclusion Castrogate.com is a whistleblower platform alleging a decades-long criminal conspiracy in San Antonio, involving judicial fraud, theft of public funds, and cover-ups by city officials, law enforcement, and judges. It focuses on specific incidents, like a 2009 court fraud, the “variable” billing account, AACOG money laundering, and 911 system failures, naming figures like Michael Bernard, Malinda Gaul, and Julian Castro. While it claims to provide extensive evidence, the narrative is one-sided, and independent verification is lacking. For a deeper understanding, reviewing the site’s documents directly or cross-referencing with official records is recommended.
You can see more of what Scott Johnson has on https://www.facebook.com/stoptheamwaytoolscam
The Amway tools scam is a hidden profit scheme within the Amway multi-level marketing (MLM) structure that exploits distributors, often leaving them with financial losses instead of the promised wealth. Amway, a well-known MLM company, markets health, beauty, and home products through independent business owners (IBOs). While the company emphasizes product sales, the real money for top-tier distributors, often at the Diamond level or above, comes from selling motivational “tools” like books, tapes, seminars, and rallies, not from product sales. These tools, promoted as essential for success, create a separate revenue stream that disproportionately benefits upline leaders while draining the profits of lower-level distributors.Distributors are pressured to purchase these overpriced tools, often costing hundreds or thousands annually, with promises of learning the secrets to building a lucrative Amway business. However, studies and lawsuits reveal that 99% of Amway distributors lose money, with average earnings below $100 monthly after expenses. The tools business, controlled by high-ranking distributors like Dexter Yager, generates millions for the elite, who earn significant markups on items like cassette tapes sold at rallies for up to $10,000 a night in cash. Meanwhile, new recruits face high startup costs—starter kits, training sessions, and product samples—further eroding their profits. This creates a pyramid-like structure where uplines profit from downlines’ purchases, not retail sales, resembling an illegal scheme.
The scam thrives on coercion, with uplines leveraging mentorship and cult-like tactics to ensure compliance, threatening to withhold support if tools aren’t bought. Legal actions, like the 2007 UK investigation, exposed deceptive practices, yet Amway often deflects blame to “independent” distributors. For most IBOs, the dream of financial freedom becomes a costly trap, enriching the few at the expense of the many.
