Leader Of Anti-Violence Organization Sentenced For Drug Possession

GOSHEN, NY — A leader of an anti-violence program will be going to prison for having drugs and conspiring to sell them in Orange County.

District Attorney David M. Hoovler said that Michael Rodriguez, 49, of Yonkers, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, after entering guilty pleas to first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree conspiracy.

He also previously agreed to forfeit a car and $165,000 as ill-gotten proceeds of his crimes.

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.

Prosecutors said the City of Middletown Police Department engaged in a two-year investigation into cocaine trafficking in and around the city of Middletown into what police said was a narcotics conspiracy involving Angelica Rodriguez. The DA’s office applied for permission to use court-ordered eavesdropping.

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 supplying narcotics to those in the city of Port Jervis, which was also active in the investigation.

Michael Rodriguez was accused of supplying cocaine to narcotics dealers in Middletown and Port Jervis and possessing two illegal handguns.

A search warrant was executed July 26 at his Yonkers home which resulted in the seizure of 1,516 grams (more than 1.5 kilograms) of cocaine, $165,509 in cash, sales, 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 about $50,000.

At the plea proceedings, Michael Rodriguez admitted entering into a conspiracy with Angelica Rodriguez and Taino Lopez and supplying them cocaine to resell.

Angelica Rodriguez, 39, of Otisville, pleaded guilty to illegal drug possession and conspiracy in November, the Albany Times Union reported, and will sentenced in February.