A Dangerous Journey Ends in a Decade Behind Bars
A Texas man will spend the next 10 years behind bars after being sentenced for his role in a dangerous human smuggling operation. Richard Rindeikis, 44 of San Antonio, received a 120-month prison sentence on July 2 for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol.
Rindeikis was arrested on November 18, 2024, after attempting to smuggle 25 individuals inside a tanker trailer. He pleaded guilty to the charge on February 5, 2025.
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“This sentencing is a grim reminder of the extreme measures smugglers will take for profit, endangering the lives of vulnerable individuals in the process,” stated Craig Larrabee, Special Agent in Charge for ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio. Larrabee emphasized the inhumane nature of the crime, adding, “Smuggling human beings inside a tanker trailer is not only illegal, but also inhumane. Thanks to the swift work of law enforcement, the victims were rescued before tragedy struck.”
According to court documents, Rindeikis was stopped at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Carrizo Springs on the day of his arrest. He initially claimed the tanker trailer was empty.
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However, during a secondary inspection, Border Patrol agents became suspicious when they observed the tanker’s hatches securely closed. Upon opening them, they discovered 25 people from Ecuador, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico crammed inside. Rindeikis was immediately arrested.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas highlighted the potential for tragedy in such cases.
“This district has seen far too many instances of human smuggling like this one end in tragedy. If not for the excellent work by the U.S. Border Patrol in this case, we may have seen another,” said Simmons, reiterating his office’s commitment to prosecuting those who “selfishly value profit over human life.”
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