Texas authorities have successfully apprehended one of the state’s most sought-after criminals. Antonio Rodriguez Jr., who was featured on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, was captured in Pasadena on January 7, 2026, following a tip that led law enforcement to his location.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced the arrest in a statement this week, confirming that Rodriguez was taken into custody just outside of Houston. “The Texas Department of Public Safety announces the capture of this month’s Texas 10 Most Wanted Featured Fugitive, Antonio Rodriguez Jr., who was arrested outside of Houston earlier this week,” the statement read.
Reward Leads to Capture
Prior to his capture, authorities had offered a $6,000 reward for information leading to Rodriguez’s arrest. That investment appears to have paid off. DPS officials confirmed that the increased Crime Stoppers reward will be paid to the person whose tip ultimately led to Rodriguez’s apprehension.
The fugitive, who had been described as armed and dangerous in previous advisories, was known to have ties to Houston and Harris County. His capture marks another success for the state’s most wanted program, which regularly features dangerous fugitives with substantial rewards for information.
How effective has the reward system been? According to law enforcement officials, the financial incentives — which can range from $3,000 to $7,500 — have proven crucial in encouraging public cooperation. “There are some big rewards to go along with these men’s capture, too,” one report noted about the program.
Rodriguez’s name has now been moved to the “captured” section of the Texas 10 Most Wanted list, with his capture date officially recorded as January 7, 2026. The entry simply states: “Antonio Rodriguez, Jr. · 1/7/2026” — a brief notation marking the end of what was likely an extensive manhunt.
The Texas DPS has not yet released details about the circumstances of Rodriguez’s arrest or the specific charges he will face. Still, his capture represents another notch in the belt for the Texas 10 Most Wanted program, which continues to leverage public tips and reward money to bring dangerous fugitives to justice.
For residents of Pasadena and the greater Houston area, the arrest removes one more potentially dangerous individual from the streets — a reminder that even fugitives who’ve managed to evade capture can eventually find themselves in custody when the right tip comes in at the right time.
