On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the Austin County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit assisted the Houston Police Department’s Major Offenders Division in tracking down two individuals suspected of committing multiple jugging crimes across Texas. The Houston Police Department’s Criminal Apprehension Team traced the suspects to Austin County, where an ACSO K9 Unit stopped their vehicle on Interstate 10 near the 724-mile marker. The driver, 36-year-old Thaddius Goins, and the passenger, 35-year-old Rataski Goins, both of Houston, were taken into custody.
Both suspects were arrested and booked into the Austin County Jail on four counts of unlawful use of a criminal instrument and one charge of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper assisted with the stop and arrests. Both suspects remain in custody, and as with all criminal cases, they are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
What Is Jugging?
Jugging is a predatory theft tactic where criminals surveil a victim making a large cash withdrawal from a bank, ATM, or similar location, and then follow them to a secondary place—often a gas station or parking lot—where they commit the robbery. This may involve breaking into a vehicle or using force. The term comes from the idea of the victim carrying a “jug” of cash, making them a high-value target.
Originally emerging in Texas, jugging has spread rapidly across the U.S. into states such as South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and California. The FBI reported involvement in about 80 jugging-related cases in Texas during 2024. In California, thieves have been caught smashing car windows to grab money while victims were inside nearby stores.
In Corpus Christi, police documented 14 jugging cases last year and seven more in the first half of this year. In the Houston area, a joint operation in Montgomery and Harris Counties led to 21 arrests tied to 12 jugging incidents, many involving organized gangs. The Houston Police Department had already logged 735 jugging cases in 2022—surpassing 2021 totals.
What is Unlawful Use of a Criminal Instrument?
A “criminal instrument” is defined as anything specially designed or adapted to commit a crime, such as burglary tools, counterfeit card skimmers, or devices used in fraud schemes. This charge is generally filed as a state jail felony if the related crime is a misdemeanor, or it elevates one level higher than the intended crime.
- Penalties: A state jail felony carries 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility and fines up to $10,000. If enhanced to a higher felony level, sentencing increases accordingly.
- In this case: The four separate counts suggest that investigators believe multiple devices or attempts were involved, with each treated as a distinct violation.
What is Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information?
This law applies when someone uses or possesses personal information—such as Social Security numbers, bank accounts, or credit card data—without the owner’s consent, often as part of fraud or theft. The severity depends on the number of items found:
- Fewer than 5 items: State jail felony
- 5–9 items: Third-degree felony (2–10 years, up to $10,000 fine)
- 10–49 items: Second-degree felony (2–20 years, up to $10,000 fine)
- 50+ items: First-degree felony (5–99 years or life, up to $10,000 fine)
Because penalties scale with the amount of stolen information, charges can escalate quickly.
