Two-year narcotics investigation by the City of Middletown Police Department into Angelica Rodriguez’s cocaine trafficking culminated into a three-month long wiretap investigation.
Michael Rodriquez, the Director of “B.R.A.G.” Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence, an anti-violence program that works to promote safer streets, charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Illegal Possession of Two Handguns
Michael Rodriquez accused of supplying cocaine to Narcotics Dealers in the City of Middletown and the City of Port Jervis
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, two of the defendants charged after a two-year long narcotics investigation were arraigned on an indictment in the Orange County Court before the Honorable Craig Stephen Brown. Michael Rodriquez, age 48, of Yonkers, who 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, was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. He was remanded back to Orange County Jail without bail and is next scheduled for a conference on September 18, 2023. Angelica Rodriguez, a/k/a “Jelly” (who is not believed to be related to Michael Rodriquez), age 39, of Middletown, was charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. She was held in lieu of $100,000 cash bail, or $500,000 fully secured bond or $750,000 partially secured bond and is next scheduled for a conference on September 18, 2023. Others defendants are expected to be arraigned on future dates.
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 Rodriquez is 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. It is alleged that Michael Rodriguez regularly supplied cocaine to Angelica Rodriguez, who would sell it in and around Middletown, and Taino Lopez who would sell it in and around Port Jervis.
“This case is yet another example of the positive outcomes we see from the coordinated and cooperative efforts of various law enforcement agencies who come together to fight the scourge of narcotics,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “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. It is unconscionable that the Director of a respected program which has pledged to reduce gun violence and help at risk youth would himself allegedly choose to become a major drug dealer and commit weapons offences. 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.
