SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A Salvadoran national has been indicted by a federal grand jury in San Antonio on charges of kidnapping and harboring illegal aliens, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas.
Franklin Ulises Rodriguez-Rivas was arrested by the San Antonio Police Department on February 19. Previously convicted of illegal re-entry and removed from the U.S. in March 2022, Rodriguez-Rivas now faces charges of illegal re-entry via a criminal complaint. A joint investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and SAPD revealed that Rodriguez-Rivas allegedly harbored an illegal alien and held the individual for ransom while residing illegally in the U.S.
Rodriguez-Rivas is charged with one count of harboring illegal aliens, one count of kidnapping, and one count of illegal re-entry. Following his arrest, he made his initial court appearance on February 20. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison for the harboring and re-entry charges, and up to life in prison for the kidnapping charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by ICE HSI with assistance from SAPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karina O’Daniel is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.