LAREDO, TEXAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Texas, Southern), published as received.
LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and violating the civil rights of two women, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Hector Humberto Rodriguez Jr. was a correctional officer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Department during the commission of the offenses.
On two separate occasions, while working in his law enforcement capacity, he forcibly sexually assaulted two women while they were housed as inmates at the Webb County Jail.
In each instance in January 2022, Rodriguez removed the victims from their cell and isolated them in a secluded area where he then used force, threats of force and coercion to forcibly sexually assault them both. Both victims later came forward and identified Rodriguez as the guard that sexually assaulted them.
“A separate room devoid of witnesses became the setting where trust turned into terror, as Rodriguez, wielding the power bestowed upon him as a jailer, used force and coercion to commit heinous acts. Rodriguez is the worst kind of predator, one who abused his authority, praying upon some of the most vulnerable women in our community,” said Hamdani. “These were women that were in his care, women that he was supposed to look after and protect. Instead, he took advantage of their vulnerability and violated their civil rights for his own sick pleasures.”
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. Rodriguez faces up to life in prison as well as potential fines of $250,000 for each of the two counts of conviction.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Leslie Ann Cortez are prosecuting the case.
