THE MAN

Austin Andrew Goodman was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on February 3, 1984. The second of four children, he was raised in Dubuque following his parents’ divorce, splitting time between their households. He attended and graduated from Dubuque Senior High School before continuing his education at Loras College, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business Finance.

After completing his degree, Austin lived in several parts of the country he came to love, including Chicago and Colorado. While residing in Colorado, he founded American Standard Hemp Co., a vertically integrated hemp operation focused on cultivating, processing, and manufacturing retail-ready hemp-based products. As the COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges for small businesses nationwide, Austin made the decision to return to Dubuque to be closer to the support of family and longtime friends.

Austin holds a strong faith in God and a deep belief in the principles upon which the United States was founded, particularly the protections guaranteed by the Constitution. He is known for his compassion, loyalty, and commitment to those close to him. Austin has a longstanding passion for advocacy, with a particular focus on defending constitutional rights and ensuring they are applied fairly and consistently.

HIS STORY

Upon his return to Dubuque in 2020, Austin began working with a local development group. He was paid a minimal salary and performed a wide range of tasks on behalf of the group’s owner. During this time, the group pursued a collaborative effort to establish a cannabis dispensary across the Mississippi River in East Dubuque, Illinois.

Given Austin’s prior experience in the hemp industry, he became a key contributor to the advancement of the dispensary project. He provided industry knowledge, strategic guidance, and business contacts that materially supported the project’s development. The developer acknowledged Austin’s pivotal role and agreed that he would be compensated for his contributions; however, the developer repeatedly delayed finalizing a written agreement to memorialize that arrangement.

As the project progressed and the developer’s portfolio increased substantially—by approximately $4.2 million as a result of the dispensary’s advancement—Austin requested that the agreed-upon compensation be honored. After meeting with the developer and being informed that payment would not be forthcoming, Austin resigned from his position.

the corruption

While employed by the development group, Austin had access to and familiarity with significant financial information, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds and other grant monies derived from public tax dollars. Through this exposure, Austin became increasingly aware of practices that demonstrated a lack of regard for ethical or lawful use of public funds. He observed the commingling of distinct funding sources and the discretionary use of those funds in ways that appeared inconsistent with their designated purposes.

The developer owns numerous properties throughout Dubuque and surrounding communities, including several that house city offices and public employees. After experiencing what he believed to be exploitation by the group’s owner and recognizing the broader implications of the developer’s conduct, Austin made the decision to engage in whistleblowing activities. His intent was to bring attention to what he believed to be the misuse of taxpayer dollars and to educate the community regarding the development group’s financial practices.

Shortly after Austin began publicly raising concerns, the developer filed a civil complaint against him. Austin responded by filing a counterclaim seeking compensation for wages and contributions he asserted were owed to him. Around this time, Austin reached out to his estranged father for assistance. His father is a long-serving public employee in Dubuque, having worked both as a county attorney and, most recently, as a public defender. Austin was informed by his father that assisting him would “risk his pension,” and his father declined to provide support.

Despite this, Austin continued to raise concerns regarding the alleged misuse of TIF funds, including the use of Iowa tax dollars in connection with the development of an Illinois-based cannabis dispensary. Approximately two weeks after meeting with his father and paternal aunt, the developer filed a criminal complaint alleging harassment by Austin. The complaint included assertions that Austin had a history of drug use and was known to carry firearms.

Two days later, Austin’s father and paternal aunt jointly applied for involuntary mental health commitment, seeking to have Austin hospitalized. In his affidavit, Austin’s father asserted that Austin had a history of mental health issues and was known to possess firearms.

Due to the rapid escalation of events following Austin’s whistleblowing activities, a detailed timeline is provided below to demonstrate the scope and sequence of the retaliation he experienced:

10/10/2024:

• Development group files civil complaint against Austin following his exposure of TIF fraud and misuse of grant funds.

10/11/2024:

• Austin schedules a meeting with his father and paternal aunt at their church, at which time Austin is told his father will not risk his pension to help him.

10/15/2025:

• Austin filed a counterclaim against the development group.

10/30/2024:

• Tom and Cathy Goodman each filed an Application Alleging Serious Mental Illness, requesting an involuntary mental health commitment.
• A court order was issued by Magistrate Mary Beth Fleming on 10/30/2024 at 3:27 pm stating, “After review of the application and supporting affidavit(s), I find there is probable cause to believe Respondent is seriously mentally impaired and is likely to injure himself/herself or others and should be immediately taken into custody. This is based on the facts contained within the affidavits filed in the application. I order the Respondent to be detained in the custody of MercyOne Hospital until the hearing date”. The hearing date was scheduled for 11/4/2024 at 1:20 pm.

10/31/2024:

• Austin was scheduled to appear in court for a temporary injunction on Iowa Courts Case Number LACV116503. Upon arrival, he was detained by Dubuque County Sheriff’s Officers and transported to MercyOne Medical Center.
• Criminal Complaint filed by development group and charges filed for 3^rd Degree Harassment and Unauthorized Use of Computer Access.
• Search Warrant 157316 applied for by the Dubuque Police Department, granted by the court. Warrant executed on 11/1/2024.
• Search Warrant 157317 applied for by the Dubuque Police Department, granted by the court. Warrant executed on 11/1/2024.
• Search Warrant 157318 applied for by the Dubuque Police Department, granted by the court. Warrant executed on 11/1/2024.

11/1/2024:

• Austin was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
• Search Warrant 157329 applied for by the Dubuque Police Department, granted by the court. Warrant executed on 12/26/2024.
• Search Warrant 157330 applied for by the Dubuque Police Department, granted by the court. An application to restrict access to the record was applied for, and an order for nondisclosure was filed by the judge. Warrant executed on 12/26/2024.

11/4/2024:

• On 11/4/2024, a hearing was held, without the Plaintiff, regarding the Application for Involuntary Hospitalization, and “Inpatient Treatment was ordered to be performed by Mercy Medical with administration of IM medication authorized” per Magistrate Natalia Blaskovich’s court order. The magistrate referenced the applications and the “testimony” by Dr. Abid Kassas as her basis for her ruling.

12/11/2024:

• Austin filed for an appeal to his seriously impaired mental health committal and designation. A hearing was scheduled, and when he arrived for his 12/11/2024 appeal hearing, there was nobody present for the hearing. The Plaintiff spoke with Judge Michael Shubatt and attempted to learn why nobody was present. The Plaintiff became frustrated and upset and left the courtroom.
• On 12/11/2024, an order for continuance was issued stating that the Plaintiff’s counsel was sick out/sick call and could not attend the appeal hearing, so it was rescheduled for 12/13/2024 at 11:00 am. In that order, Judge Shubatt referenced the Plaintiff immediately walking out of the courtroom, but contradicted that by stating he was served personally.

12/13/2024:

• The rescheduled appeal hearing was conducted without notice to Austin. Both attorneys and the applicants met for the hearing, but Austin was unaware and therefore was not present due to a lack of notification regarding the rescheduled hearing. The appeal was dismissed by Judge Thomas Bitter.

2/6/2025:

• An order was filed by Judge Thomas Straka stating that “Pursuant to the periodic report, the above matter is hereby closed”. Austin had no follow-up mental health treatment or medication management following his discharge from the hospital.

3/4/2025:

• Austin was arrested and charged with the following:
• Interference with Official Acts
• Person Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons
• Assault on Persons in Certain Occupation
• Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana 1^st Offense

3/5/2025:

• Austin was charged with Contempt of Court – Insolence Behavior before Court
• Austin was charged with Stalking – Violation of Protective Order (despite already accepting a plea deal for the violations and serving 30 days).
• Austin served a Cease and Desist Order from Dubuque City Attorney.

3/14/2025:

• Austin accepted a plea deal under duress for the Harassment, Unauthorized Computer Access, and 10 Contempt of Court – Violation of No Contact Order charges. Austin’s court-appointed attorney quoted as calling him a “Political Prisoner”. Sentenced to 30 days in jail.

3/27/2025:

• Austin was charged with Extortion.

9/9/2025:

• Case presented to the United States District Court, Northern District of Iowa, grand jury, and an indictment was issued for 1 Count in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(4): Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, citing his previous mental health commitment as the reason he was labeled as ineligible

9/30/2025:

• Austin found NOT GUILTY on the EXTORTION charge after presenting his case sui juris.
• Austin was detained by the Dubuque Police Department for the U.S. Marshals for transfer to the Linn County jail to face a charge in the United States Court for Northern Iowa.

11/4/2025:

• The judge presiding in the federal case filed docket #27 in response to advocacy emails by members of the Iowa Public House Private Member Association. In response to the emails, he chastised members for contacting him directly in chambers and referred to the attorneys to follow up if there was information he needed to know.

12/16/2025:

• Austin participated in a 3^rd party psychiatric evaluation scheduled by the Federal Public Defender after the prompting of members of the Iowa Public House Private Member Association. Austin was told that this evaluation was of no benefit because they could not determine his mental state at the time of the commitment.

12/29/2025:

• Federal Public Defender files a Motion to Dismiss and Motion to Suppress on behalf of Austin that was written largely without Austin’s or his advocates’ input.

1/9/2026:

Presiding judge files response and recommendations to the Motion to Dismiss and Motion to Suppress. He recommended denying the motions.

HIS FIGHT

Beginning in October, Austin’s mom began working with a clerk to develop Iowa Public House Private Member Association in order to initiate advocacy on behalf of Austin. The group consists of 3 main members who have completed all of the advocacy beginning on 11/3/2025. A few others joined for a short time and helped with specific tasks, but despite the pleas for more members and advocates, the group has remained at 3 with consistency. The members engaged in phone meetings daily for 1-2 hours to develop a plan for action that day. Below is a timeline of the main efforts of this advocacy group, but is by no means an exhaustive list:

10/2/2025 – Austin’s mom and “the clerk” had their initial phone meeting to begin advocacy.

11/3/2025 – Letter of Notice, Bill of Particulars, and Statement of Facts were sent by CERTIFIED MAIL to the Dubuque County Attorney, and both the Confirmed and Acting United States Attorneys for the Northern District of Iowa. They were also emailed and faxed to those parties. Documents were also emailed to 11 other public employees with direct involvement in Austin’s state and/or federal cases.

11/5/2025 – Letter of Notice, Bill of Particulars, and Statement of Facts were emailed to more than 30 other public employees with direct or indirect involvement in Austin’s state and/or federal criminal cases, as well as his mental health case. Many of these included follow-up phone calls or emails with the parties.

11/6/2025 – Emails were sent, and phone calls were conducted with 13 different news entities requesting their assistance in sharing Austin’s story.

12/3/2025 – Tina Rice, MSW and advocate, provided an article for publication to the editor for the Times-Register in Clayton County, Iowa, following a phone call where the editor said she would consider publishing an article, but did not have the staff to do the research and development of the story. LINK TO ARTICLE ON WEAPONIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH. The article was not published.

Public Offices provided with all of the information about the corruption, retaliation of a whistleblower, and malicious prosecution, but most have chosen to ignore the requests for an investigation and audit:

• Dubuque County Police Department
• Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office
• Dubuque County Supervisors
• Dubuque County Attorney’s Office
• State of Iowa Public Defender’s Office of Dubuque County
• Dubuque County Wrongful Conviction Unit
• Dubuque County Auditor’s Office
• Dubuque County Judicial Mental Health Advocate
• Dubuque County Jail
• Dubuque County Clerk of Court
• City of Dubuque Attorney
• District Court Judges for Dubuque County
• Dubuque County Probation and Parole
• Dubuque County Victim Witness Coordinators
• Dubuque County GOP
• Dubuque County Democrats
• MercyOne Medical Center
• Delaware County Attorney
• Jackson County Attorney
• Clayton County Attorney
• Jones County Attorney
• Winneshiek County Attorney
• Linn County Attorney
• Muscatine County Jail
• Chief District Court Judge for District 1 in Iowa
• District Court 1 Administrator
• Governor’s Office of Iowa
• Iowa Attorney General’s Office
• Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation – Major Crimes
• State Public Defender’s Office – Des Moines
• State Auditor’s Office (Auditor and Public Information Officer)
• Iowa Finance Authority
• Iowa Economic Development Authority
• Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center
• Iowa Department of Public Safety
• Iowa Ombudsman’s Office – has assigned the case for investigation and has been responsive to advocates.
• Iowa Professional Standards Bureau – Board of Medicine and Accountancy
• Iowa Bar Association
• Iowa Senator Carrie Koelker
• Iowa Representative Shannon Lundgren
• Iowa Representative Jennifer Smith
• Iowa Senator Thomas Townsend
• Iowa Representative Lindsay James – communicated with advocates and agreed to investigate, with no response so far
• Senator Charles “Chuck” Grassley
• Representative Ashley Hinson
• United States District Court for Northern Iowa
• Federal Public Defender’s Office
• United States Postal Service – investigating mail fraud and potential other criminal charges
• Federal Bureau of Investigation

Complaints have been filed with:

Iowa Judicial Branch

Iowa Board of Medicine

Iowa Board of Accountancy

United States Postal Service

Iowa Bar Association

HELP AUSTIN

We are seeking volunteers to advocate on behalf of Austin, a Dubuque native and small-business founder who faces criminal charges following his efforts to expose the alleged misuse of public tax dollars. The sequence of civil, criminal, and mental health actions taken against him raises serious concerns about retaliation and abuse of process. We are calling on community members, legal advocates, journalists, and civil rights supporters to help advocate for his release and the dismissal of all charges, monitor proceedings, and ensure transparency and due process. We are seeking the immediate release and dismissal of all charges against Austin as well as an investigation and audit into the public employees involved in the retaliation and malicious prosecution of Austin. This effort is not just about Austin though; it is about protecting whistleblowers and defending constitutional rights.

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AUSTIN GOODMAN

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