A Texas truck driver was sentenced to years in federal prison after he was caught transporting more than two dozen people inside a tanker trailer.
On July 1, 2025, San Antonio resident Richard Rindeikis, 44, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
Rindeikis pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to transport illegal aliens charge on February 5, 2025.
Officials say that on November 18, 2024, Rindeikis was operating a truck hauling a tanker trailer when he was inspected at a U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) checkpoint near Carrizo Springs.
“He claimed the tanker was empty and, when he couldn’t locate his driver’s license, was referred to secondary inspection. USBP agents observed that the hatches on top of the tanker trailer were closed and completely secured. When they opened the hatches, they discovered numerous people sitting inside the tanker,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Twenty-five people from Ecuador, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico were removed from the tanker, and Rindeikis was arrested.
“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 U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “My office will continue to pursue, prosecute, and seek to punish those who selfishly value profit over human life.”
“This sentencing is a grim reminder of the extreme measures smugglers will take for profit, endangering the lives of vulnerable individuals in the process,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “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. HSI remains relentless in our mission to dismantle smuggling networks and protect human life at every turn.”
The case was investigated by HSI and USBP.
