Former jailer sentenced for sexually assaulting female inmates

LAREDO, Texas – A 29-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to federal prison for sexually assaulting two women while working as a corrections officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Hector Humberto Rodriguez Jr. pleaded guilty Dec. 30, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Rodriguez to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court described Rodriguez’s predatory conduct, the danger he posed to the community and how he abused a system meant to protect victims by exploiting his position of authority to commit the offenses. Rodriguez will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Rodriguez was a correctional officer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Office during the commission of the offenses.

On two separate occasions in Jan. 2022, while working in his law enforcement capacity, he used force to sexually assault the two women while they were housed as inmates at the Webb County jail. 

During each instance, Rodriguez removed the victims from their cell and isolated them in a secluded area where he then used force, threats and coercion to sexually assault them. 

Rodriguez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Leslie Ann Cortez prosecuted the case.