In a stunning display of depravity, 44-year-old Lyford man Jose Rodriguez Jr. has been ordered to spend the next 20 years behind bars for possessing images of sexual assaults of prepubescent children.
The jury deliberated for approximately 15 minutes before finding Rodriguez guilty after a one-day trial on April 15. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton upwardly departed from the U.S. sentencing guidelines and imposed a 240-month sentence.
The court heard additional information detailing Rodriguez’s prior conviction of aggravated sexual assault of a child. In handing down the prison term, the court noted Rodriguez’s conduct in that case, which involved tying up his nine-year-old victim before attempting to sexually assault her and tying up an eight-year-old witness, was a consideration for an upward departure.
Rodriguez downloaded child pornography files on 20 separate occasions, beginning only six months after he was released from his 13-year sentence for the aggravated sexual assault of a child conviction. The court noted the need to protect the public from Rodriguez’s crimes and highlighted that Rodriguez had a complete lack of remorse for his actions.
Rodriguez was further ordered to pay restitution to known victims and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Rodriguez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Those who sexually assault children, possess child sexual abuse material, or smuggle human beings like some sort of commodity, are all imbued with a common trait: total disdain for the inherent value and dignity of a human being,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Law enforcement originally arrested Rodriguez on August 12, 2024, in connection with an alien transportation event. At that time, they seized his phone and discovered over 150 images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
During the trial, the jury heard testimony and evidence regarding the multiple images and videos of CSAM downloaded and stored on Rodriguez’s phone over multiple months. The evidence included numerous files depicting the sexual assaults of prepubescent children.
Rodriguez was charged in a separate case for the human smuggling event and later pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison and two years of supervised release in that case.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation with assistance from Raymondville Police Department and Willacy County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Devin Walker and Jose Garcia prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Mandatory Facts:
Defendant: Jose Rodriguez Jr.
Criminal Charges: Possessing images of sexual assaults of prepubescent children
City and State: McAllen, Texas
Exact Date: April 15, 2024 (sentencing)
Sentence: 20 years (240 months) in prison
Additional Information: Rodriguez was also ordered to pay restitution to known victims and serve the rest of his life on supervised release following the completion of his prison term.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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