A Plainview, Texas man has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation of a 10-year-old child. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Leandro Rodriquez, Jr., age 44, was indicted in May 2025 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to enticement of a minor. United States District Judge James Wesley Hendrix handed down the sentence.
Court documents state that in March 2025, the legal guardian of the victim discovered messages on the child’s phone that raised concerns about possible abuse involving Rodriquez, who was dating the child’s biological mother. The children had recently stayed overnight at their mother’s residence with Rodriquez present.
The guardian questioned the child about the messages, which led to disclosures that Rodriquez had engaged in sexual acts with her while her younger sister was present. The child also revealed that after the abuse, Rodriquez requested she send him a video of herself performing a sexual act.
Law enforcement interviewed both sisters. The younger sibling confirmed witnessing Rodriquez abusing her sister while their mother was not home.
Authorities seized Rodriquez’s cell phone and obtained a search warrant. They found sexually explicit images of the victim and messages from Rodriquez instructing her to meet him. Investigators also found a video showing Rodriquez and the victim together, where she referred to them as “happily married.”
The investigation was conducted by the Plainview Police Department with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Rancourt prosecuted the case.
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims.” For more information about Project Safe Childhood or internet safety education resources visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
