LAREDO, Texas – Jovanni Rodarte, 20, of Rio Bravo, is headed to federal prison for nearly a decade after a reckless high-speed chase left multiple Laredo residents with devastating injuries. Rodarte pleaded guilty December 8, 2016, to conspiring to transport unlawful aliens and causing serious bodily injury. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo to 97 months, followed by three years of supervised release.
The October 5, 2016, incident began when a Webb County Sheriff’s Officer attempted a traffic stop on Rodarte, who was transporting two illegal aliens. Instead of complying, Rodarte floored it, leading officers on a dangerous pursuit through the El Cenizo neighborhood. Witnesses reported Rodarte exceeding 100 miles per hour in a residential zone, a callous disregard for public safety. The chase ended violently when Rodarte slammed into a school fence and then a vehicle carrying three Laredo residents – a mother and her son among them – who were returning from a medical appointment.
The impact was catastrophic. While Rodarte miraculously escaped serious injury, the occupants of the struck vehicle sustained severe injuries requiring immediate medical attention and air transport to hospitals in Laredo and San Antonio. All three victims face years of ongoing treatment. One of the illegal aliens being smuggled was ejected from Rodarte’s vehicle and also suffered injuries. The courtroom today heard harrowing testimony from the wife of one of the victims, detailing the immense physical and emotional toll the crash has taken on her family.
Judge Marmolejo didn’t mince words, stating she was “entirely justified” in imposing the maximum sentence. She highlighted Rodarte’s history of gang involvement while incarcerated and his repeated brushes with the law related to alien smuggling. The judge condemned Rodarte for repeatedly making poor choices, and for the irreparable harm he inflicted on innocent lives, including a mother and son whose lives were forever altered.
Rodarte was also ordered to pay $192,997.20 in restitution to the victims, a paltry sum considering the lifelong consequences of his actions. Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Antonio, Folden, emphasized the agency’s commitment to dismantling human smuggling organizations. “Criminals who illegally smuggle people…place personal profit ahead of public safety,” Folden stated. “HSI will continue to utilize its broad authorities to dismantle these operations.”
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Howard prosecuted the case. Rodarte remains in federal custody and will begin serving his 97-month sentence immediately. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by human smuggling and the devastating consequences for both those exploited and the communities they impact.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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