Local news- Press Release
Orange Country New York - DA Hoovler Director of Bronx Anti Violence Program Sentenced to 10 Years 04 January 2024 ( news )
Orange Country , state New York ( By Press Release office)
Jan 04,2024
| 6| 1
District Attorney Hoovler:
Director of “Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence” , an Anti - Violence Program That Works to Promote Safer Streets , Sentenced to 10 Years
Michael Rodriguez Previously Pled Guilty to Narcotics and Conspiracy Charges
Rodriguez Also Forfeit a Car and $165 , 000 as Ill - Gotten Proceeds of his Crimes
Orange County District Attorney David M . Hoovler announced that on Thursday , January 4 , 2024 , Michael Rodriguez , age 49 , of Yonkers , was sentenced before the Honorable Craig Stephen Brown in the Orange County Court to an aggregate term of ten ( 10 ) years in prison to be followed by five ( 5 ) years of post - release supervision relative to his previously entered guilty pleas to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Conspiracy in the Second Degree . Rodriguez is the Director of Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence ( B . R . A . G . ) , which is a prominent anti - violence program that receives government money and works in the Bronx to promote safer streets . Rodriguez also previously agreed to forfeit a car and $165 , 000 as ill - gotten proceeds of his crimes .
The City of Middletown Police Department engaged in a two - year long investigation into cocaine trafficking
in and around the City of Middletown allegedly committed by Angelica Rodriguez , a/k/a “Jelly , ” age 39 , of Otisville . The City of Middletown Police Department were later aided in the investigation by the Orange County Drug Taskforce . That Taskforce is run under the supervision of a Senior Criminal Investigator from Orange County District Attorney’s Office and a Senior Investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office . In addition to personnel from those agencies , the Drug Task Force is composed of police officers from other Orange County police departments . Currently the Town of Montgomery Police Department , the Wallkill Police Department , and the Highlands Police Department have committed to assigning police officers to work on the Task Force .
After conventional investigative means failed to reveal evidence showing the entire extent of the narcotics conspiracy surrounding Angelica Rodriguez , the District Attorney’s Office applied for permission to use court - ordered eavesdropping in the investigation . During the course of the investigation , it was discovered that the same suppliers of cocaine who were providing Angelica Rodriguez and her co - conspirators with cocaine to sell , were also suppling narcotics to those in the City of Port Jervis . The City of Port Jervis was also active in the investigation . Michael Rodriguez was accused of supplying cocaine to narcotics dealers in the City of Middletown and the City of Port Jervis and possessing two illegal handguns . On July 26 , 2023 , a search warrant was executed at Michael Rodriguez’s Yonkers residence , which resulted in the seizure of 1516 grams ( over 1 . 5 kilograms ) of cocaine , $165 , 509 in United States currency , scales , a money counter , an unlicensed Ruger . 380 caliber pistol , an unlicensed Bond Arms . 357 caliber handgun , a vacuum sealer , digital scales and jewelry estimated to have a value of approximately $50 , 000 .
At the plea proceedings , Michael Rodriguez admitted to entering into a conspiracy with Angelica Rodriguez and Taino Lopez and supplying them cocaine to resell .
“The significant sentence imposed in this case is justified based on the appalling conduct of a person who claimed to advocate for reduction in gun violence , ” said District Attorney David M . Hoovler . “This defendant had no qualms endangering vulnerable members of our community to benefit himself . I hope that the sentence will be a deterrent to those considering any similar conduct . I commend the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation and for working with the Orange County Drug Taskforce , and other law enforcement agencies such as the City of Port Jervis Police Department , the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police . My Office will continue to pursue drug dealers and utilize all resources available to us to bring them to justice . ”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory , who also aided in the investigation .
This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law , and it is not evidence of guilt . All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial , during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt .
PLAY the NEWS
* May be useful for visually impaired persons .
Press release information :
Direct link to press release:
Click here .
