A federal jury in McAllen, Texas, has convicted 43-year-old Lyford resident Jose Rodriguez Jr. for possessing child pornography. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the verdict, which followed a brief 15-minute jury deliberation after a one-day trial.
Rodriguez was initially arrested on August 12, 2024, related to an alien transportation incident. During this arrest, law enforcement officers seized his phone, uncovering over 150 images and videos of child sexual assault material (CSAM). Evidence presented during the trial revealed that these files were downloaded over several months, featuring sexual assaults of prepubescent children. Additionally, the jury heard of Rodriguez’s previous conviction for attempted sexual assault in 2010, involving a minor victim.
The defense's argument that a virus was responsible for downloading the illicit material was countered by evidence showing that Rodriguez maintained over 100 user accounts on the phone, with downloads occurring on 20 separate occasions between April and August 2024. A computer forensic expert testified that the pattern of downloads suggested intentional behavior.
Ganjei stated, "The Southern District of Texas has zero tolerance for child sex offenses, much less repeat sex offenders like the defendant in this case. We are grateful to the jury for serving justice in this case."
Sentencing is scheduled for July 15 by U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton. Rodriguez faces a potential federal prison sentence of up to 20 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. He has also pleaded guilty in a separate case concerning human smuggling.
Rodriguez was immediately taken into custody following the verdict and will remain there pending his sentencing for both cases. The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol, Raymondville Police Department, and Willacy County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Devin Walker and Jose Garcia are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. This initiative uses federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute offenders and assist victims.
For more details on PSC and internet safety, the public can visit the Department of Justice’s PSC page.