Leandro Rodriquez Jr., 44, of Plainview, Texas, has been ordered to serve 50 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to enticement of a minor. Prosecutors say the sentence stems from the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl while her younger sister was in the room.
What prosecutors say
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas, Rodriquez was indicted in May 2025 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 before U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix. Court records cited by prosecutors state the abuse occurred in March 2025, after the victim and her younger sister stayed overnight at a residence where Rodriquez was dating the girls' mother.
Prosecutors say the child's guardian later discovered a string of messages on the victim's phone in which Rodriquez directed her to meet him. A search of his phone uncovered sexually explicit images, along with a video in which the 10-year-old is heard telling the camera that she and Rodriquez were "happily married," according to the press release.
Investigation and local reporting
The Plainview Police Department led the investigation with help from the FBI's Dallas Field Office, Lubbock Resident Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security, as reported by KCBD. The station reports that investigators secured a search warrant for Rodriquez's phone, which allowed them to recover the images, messages, and video that prosecutors later highlighted at sentencing.
KCBD notes that the FBI's Dallas office also shared word of the conviction and sentence on its Facebook page, underscoring how seriously federal agents and local police treated the case.
Federal charge and penalties
Federal prosecutors charged Rodriquez under a statute that makes it a crime to use interstate communications to persuade or entice a minor into sexual activity. The law, 18 U.S.C. § 2422, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and allows for a maximum of life, depending on the circumstances.
Sentencing in such cases is shaped by that statute as well as the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which can increase penalties based on factors such as the victim's age, the use of electronic devices, and any prior criminal history.
Project Safe Childhood and local impact
The U.S. Attorney's Office said the case was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Justice Department initiative that coordinates federal, state, and local efforts to investigate and prosecute child sexual exploitation. Officials in the Northern District of Texas have taken several similar cases to court in recent months, a pattern that highlights an ongoing federal focus on both online and in-person abuse of children.
How to report suspected abuse
If you believe a child is being sexually exploited, authorities urge you to contact local law enforcement immediately. You can also make a report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org or by calling 1-800-843-5678. NCMEC can help coordinate with law enforcement and federal partners and connect affected families with support resources.
