Report: Bobby Pulido Brought Registered Sex Offender Bandmate to South Texas School Benefit

A new investigative report by Axios has placed Tejano star and Democratic congressional candidate Bobby Pulido under renewed scrutiny after revealing that he performed alongside a registered sex offender at a 2018 benefit concert for a South Texas middle school.

According to the report, Pulido headlined a fundraising event for Harwell Middle School in Edinburg, Texas, on May 24, 2018. Also performing on stage that night was longtime accordionist Frankie Caballero, who had completed a four-year prison sentence the previous year following a conviction for indecent sexual contact with an 8-year-old girl in Hidalgo County and was listed on Texas’ sex offender registry at the time of the event.

Axios reported that children were present at the fundraiser, which was held at Richard R. Flores Stadium and promoted as a benefit for the school. Promotional materials and video reviewed by the news outlet showed Caballero performing as a member of Pulido’s band during the event.

The report comes as Pulido seeks to unseat incumbent U.S. Representative Monica De La Cruz in Texas’ 15th Congressional District.

Campaign maintains Pulido was unaware

Pulido has repeatedly denied knowing about Caballero’s status as a registered sex offender during the period they performed together.

“Bobby was never made aware of Caballero’s sex offender registration and would never knowingly associate with anyone with that kind of history,” campaign manager Abel Prado said in a statement. “Bobby extends his deepest sympathies and support to all of the victims involved.”

Prado added that Caballero struggled with addiction issues and that Pulido had attempted to help him. According to the campaign, Caballero was dismissed and ties were severed after management became aware of his criminal history in 2021.

Pulido also addressed the controversy in a social media video, accusing political opponents and media outlets of focusing on sensational allegations rather than issues affecting South Texas voters. He said his campaign would remain focused on policy and community concerns.

They can throw whatever they want, we’re not flinching.

South Texas knows who actually shows up and who just plays politics. We’re staying focused on what matters: real people, real issues, and real results. pic.twitter.com/Z3tC9JX8Z2

— Bobby Pulido for Texas (@PulidoForTexas) April 4, 2026

Axios questions denial

However, Axios reported that Pulido’s claims of ignorance are “difficult to square” with years of public comments describing a close relationship with Caballero.

The report notes that Pulido resumed touring with Caballero shortly after the accordionist’s release from prison in 2017. Just days before the Harwell Middle School benefit, Pulido publicly credited Caballero with helping launch his career and said he was responsible for recruiting him into the band years earlier.

Axios also highlighted several public remarks made by Pulido over the years.

During a 2019 podcast interview, Pulido said he had personally bailed Caballero out of jail earlier in his career. In a March 2024 interview with Tejano ROOTS Hall of Fame broadcaster Rock-N-Roll James Echavarria, Pulido referred to his longtime bandmate’s legal troubles, saying it was a “shame” that Caballero “just can’t stay out of trouble.”

The report further cited a November 2018 concert in Tucson, Arizona, where Pulido joked that Caballero had “worked at Penn State,” a reference many have linked to the university’s highly publicized child sex abuse scandal. Moments later, Pulido described Caballero as a “bad man” before praising his musical abilities and role in helping shape his career.

Axios reported that Pulido’s campaign did not respond to multiple requests seeking clarification about the meaning of those comments.

Long professional relationship

According to Axios, Caballero and Pulido maintained a close professional relationship dating back to the 1990s. The outlet reported that Caballero continued performing with Pulido on television appearances and concerts through at least 2021.

Court and bonding records reviewed by Axios reportedly listed Pulido as Caballero’s employer in early 2021 while additional criminal charges involving Caballero were pending.

Caballero later pleaded guilty in 2021 to assaulting his daughter by impeding her breathing, according to court records cited by Axios.

Community reaction

The investigation has generated significant discussion within both political and Tejano music circles.

Axios quoted a musician who has worked with Pulido and described Caballero’s criminal history as a “well-known fact” within the industry.

“The Tejano community is a very small, tight-knit community,” the musician told Axios. “Bobby knows exactly who we got.”

Caballero did not respond to requests for comment from Axios.

As the controversy continues to unfold, Pulido’s campaign maintains that he was unaware of Caballero’s sex offender registration and emphasizes that all ties with the accordionist were severed years ago. Meanwhile, critics continue to question whether the singer’s longstanding relationship with Caballero makes those claims credible.

The issue arrives at a critical time for Pulido, whose congressional campaign is gaining national attention in one of Texas’ most closely watched political races.

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