Sentence imposed for using vehicle to assault federal agent and smuggle individuals

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 22-year-old man from Brownsville has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for transporting and attempting to transport undocumented aliens and assaulting a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Cristian Rodriguez pleaded guilty May 23.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered Rodriguez to serve 48 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release.

On Sept. 16, 2022, law enforcement observed three individuals running away from the border wall and getting in a gray vehicle at an intersection in Brownsville. Authorities activated emergency equipment but the driver - Rodriguez - impacted the marked unit in a head-on collision. 

Authorities extracted the occupants and evaluated them for injuries. 

In total, there were five occupants in the gray vehicle, three of whom were in the rear - Mexican nationals without proper documentation to be in or remain in the United States. They had just made an illegal entry into the United States by crossing the Rio Grande River.

The front passenger was Rolando Rodriguez, the brother of Cristian Rodriguez. He had also pleaded guilty and was previously sentenced to 46 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release for transporting and attempting to transport undocumented aliens. 

Previously released on bond, Cristian Rodriguez was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender in the near future.

Border Patrol and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Coronado and Paul Marian prosecuted the case.