Yonkers man connected with Port Jervis drug trafficking sentenced to 10 years

On Thursday, January 4, Michael Rodriguez, 49, of Yonkers, was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision after he pled guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree and conspiracy in the second degree. His arrest was originally reported in September 2023 along with Otisville resident Angelica Rodriguez, a/k/a “Jelly.”

Rodriguez was the director of Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence (B.R.A.G.), an 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 for what District Attorney David Hoovler’s office described in the sentencing announcement as “ill-gotten proceeds of his crimes.”

The initial arrest stemmed from a two-year-long investigation by the City of Middletown Police Department into cocaine trafficking in and around their jurisdiction allegedly committed by Angelica Rodriguez. Middletown police were later aided in the investigation by the Orange County Drug Taskforce, which is 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. The Drug Task Force also includes police officers from Montgomery, Wallkill, and Highlands.

According to the DA’s office, Michael Rodriguez was found to be involved “after conventional investigative means failed to reveal evidence showing the entire extent of the narcotics conspiracy surrounding Angelica Rodriguez,” and the District Attorney’s Office gained permission to use court-ordered eavesdropping in the investigation. That’s when investigators were able to determine a connection between Angelica Rodriguez and her co-conspirators, and those supplying narcotics in the City of Port Jervis, which was also involved 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 1,516 grams (over 1.5 kilograms) of cocaine, $165,509 in U.S. 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, according to the DA’s Office.

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 DA 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.