Michael Rodriguez of local cure violence group, Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence (B.R.A.G.), has been arrested for alleged drug and gun offenses during a recent drug takedown operation in Orange County, according to the Office of the Orange County District Attorney [NY], as reported earlier this week by the NY Post.

 

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler, Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta, City of Middletown Police Chief John Ewanciw, and City of Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden, announced during a press conference held on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at City Hall in Middletown, NY, that fifteen defendants, Rodriguez among them. had been charged with various crimes including conspiracy to sell narcotics.

 

Orange County officials said the arrests were the result of a two-year long narcotics investigation that involved court-ordered eavesdropping. They said seven search warrants were executed during the investigation which resulted in the seizure of over 1516 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of around $50,000, over $167,000 in U.S. currency, and three illegally possessed handguns.

 

Over time, Norwood News has covered a number of successful events hosted by B.R.A.G., which has been operating in the North Bronx for several years now, while other local groups have sought to emulate B.R.A.G.’s work as a frame of reference for other anti-gun violence initiatives. B.R.A.G. is one of several community partners involved in Mayor Eric Adams’ strategy to end gun violence outlined in his “Blueprint to End Gun Violence” released last year, as reported.

 

The mayor also held a round table last year with various district attorneys to discuss his anti-gun violence strategy. Norwood  News readers weighed in on the mayor’s blueprint announcement at the time, while recently, Norwood News covered B.R.A.G.’s ongoing summer BBQ series.

B.R.A.G. is one of many programs operated by Manhattan-based nonprofit, Good Shepherd Services. When Norwood News reached out to the nonprofit for comment on Rodriguez’s arrest, a spokesperson for B.R.A.G. replied, saying, “We are aware of the investigation and the charges that have been made. While we work to learn more, our primary focus remains on the communities we serve and our programs that are helping to keep them safe.”

 

In the NY Post story, Rodriguez was described as the “head of [an] NYC anti-violence program.” In fact, as confirmed by Good Shepherd Services, Rodriguez is not the head of B.R.A.G., but is the program director for the B.R.A.G. North West site. As reported, according to its website, B.R.A.G. currently operates in three locations in The Bronx. B.R.A.G. North covers Wakefield, B.R.A.G. Northwest serves Fordham and Belmont, while B.R.A.G. West covers University Heights and Morris Heights.

 

Meanwhile, David Caba is better known as the face of B.R.A.G. in his role as vice president of the group, which works with teens and young adults between the ages of 16 and 25, mentoring and assisting in their development of conflict resolution skills. According to their website, between July 2017 and June 2021, B.R.A.G. responded to 1,035 disputes, organized 10,973 “interruption activities,” and worked through 2,353 “completed mediations.”

 

As reported, at one of the recent B.R.A.G. summer barbecues held in Fordham Manor, a representative for the group said they have been hosting peace barbecues in Kingsbridge since 2014, and in Olinville since 2016. “Cure violence is about credible messengers,” she said. “We maintain our community’s safety, so this is about coming together as a community and making sure we denounce violence, and what we do is done in a peaceful way.”

A week after that particular barbecue, Bronx elected officials joined various cure violence groups, including B.R.A.G., on Friday, July 14, at E 193rd Street and Morris Avenue beside St. James Park in Fordham Manor for a peace rally denouncing the shooting, three days earlier at the exact same location, of four people, including two children under the age of seven. Rodriguez was one of the speakers at the rally.

 

In an interview with Norwood News afterwards, Rodriguez was asked if there was anything additional he wanted to add on the topic of gun violence other than what he had already said during his speech. He replied, “I just want to say that….you know what I’m saying? We out here just for the community not to be afraid. We shouldn’t have to be afraid. I’m asking them continue their daily routines, continued their activities, you know?”

 

Rodriguez continued, “We know that happened [the shooting of the four people], but I don’t want the community to feel fear, where they don’t have to come outside anymore. That’s not how we supposed to be livin’ and I’m asking the community to, you know, just love each other more and love your neighbor. You know you live in the same building. You should be knowing who your neighbors are, loving each other, spreading love, but we don’t have to come out here and be afraid to come out to the park. No kid should ever feel afraid.”

 

As reported, the daylight shooting of the four victims had taken place on a sunny Tuesday evening on July 11 near a crowded St. James Park where hundreds were relaxing or playing sports. Two people were later arrested for the incident.

 

We asked Rodriguez if, in his opinion, he felt the gun violence epidemic was more of a problem of the availability of guns or culture / fear / mindset. He replied, “Oh, we all know that guns are not made here [in The Bronx/New York].” He continued, “You know, we know that Bronx has, basically…. we’re the only borough that has an I95 pipeline, you know what I’m saying? What’s going on? The guns are accidentally falling off the truck? We know that, so we asking, you know, the State officials, elected officials, you know, to put a better stop to that.”

In January 2021, as reported, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark Clark announced that another Bronx man active in an anti-gun violence movement had been charged with fatally shooting a second man in August 2020. Clark said the defendant, Mervin Joseph Moore, 37, of Sheridan Avenue in the South Bronx, was arraigned on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Michael Gross and, at the time, remained in custody. He was due back in court on April 28, 2021. Norwood News has reached out to the Bronx DA’s office for an update on his current status.

 

Meanwhile, Orange County officials said the investigation into the arrest of Rodriguez and others was conducted by the City of Middletown Police Department, the Orange County drug taskforce, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the City of Port Jervis Police Department. Other law enforcement agencies who they said provided crucial help with the investigation included the New York State Police violent gang and narcotics enforcement team, the Orange County Sheriff’s special operations group, the Hudson Valley crimes analysis center and the City of Yorkers Police Department.

 

Orange County officials said among those arrested was Rodriguez, 48, of Yonkers, also described in the press release as “the director” of B.R.A.G., “a prominent anti-violence program that receives government money and works in The Bronx to promote safer streets.” Officials said Rodriguez was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and conspiracy in the second degree.

Rumors that something was amiss within a Bronx-based cure violence group had been circulating in the borough in recent weeks. Norwood News contacted City Hall on July 28 for a breakdown of funding provided to all such groups. We did not receive, and still have not received, a response to our request.

 

Meanwhile, Orange County officials said 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. According to Orange County officials, on July 26, a search warrant was executed at Rodriguez’s Yonkers home, 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 around $50,000.

 

Norwood News contacted The Office of Bronx District Attorney for a comment on Rodriguez’s arrest. Clark said, “The allegations of drug trafficking and gun possession against Michael Rodriguez are shocking and disturbing, especially since he has attended anti-violence events and peace marches portraying himself as someone who cares about stopping the violence in our community. These charges are the exact opposite of the good work cure violence groups are doing.”

 

Orange County officials said it is alleged that Rodriguez regularly supplied cocaine to an Angelica Rodriguez, a/k/a “Jelly,” 39, of Otisville, NY, who would sell it in and around Middletown, and a Tiano Lopez who would sell it in and around Port Jervis. They said Michael Rodriguez is currently being held without bail in Orange County Jail pending his appearance in Orange County Court. They said the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has filed a notice of affirmative grand jury action in the City of Middletown Court with respect to his case.

 

Officials went on to say that The City of Middletown Police Department had been engaged in a two-year long investigation into cocaine trafficking in and around the City of Middletown committed by Angelica Rodriguez. They said the police department were later aided in their investigation by the Orange County drug taskforce, run under the supervision of a senior criminal investigator from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and a senior investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to personnel from these referenced agencies, officials said the drug task force is composed of police officers from other Orange County police departments, including those from the Town of Montgomery Police Department, the Wallkill Police Department, and the Highlands Police Department. They said that after conventional investigative means failed to reveal evidence showing the entire extent of the narcotics conspiracy surrounding Angelica Rodriguez, officials from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office applied for permission to use court-ordered eavesdropping in the investigation.

 

During the course of the investigation, they said 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 latter also active in the investigation.

 

Officials said Angelica Rodriguez, who is not believed to be related to Michael Rodriguez, was arrested on July 27, and charged by a felony complaint filed in the City of Middletown Court with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and conspiracy in the second degree, and is currently being held without bail in Orange County Jail, pending her appearance in Orange County Court. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has filed a notice of affirmative grand jury action in the City of Middletown Court with respect to her case also, officials said.

 

Other charges are expected to be filed against Angelica Rodriguez, officials added. During a traffic stop on July 14, they said police recovered thirty-six (36) grams of cocaine from a vehicle she had been driving. They said a search warrant executed at a storage unit she had been renting resulted in the seizure of a loaded Smith and Wesson .380 caliber pistol, cutting agents and a scale commonly used for the processing of cocaine. Officials said the pistol recovered in Angelica Rodriguez’s storage unit had been previously reported as stolen.

 

Ten other people with various upstate addresses were also charged with various offenses and released pending their next court dates, while three others, also charged, are still sought.

 

Orange County officials said Michael Rodriguez was arrested on July 26, following the execution of the search warrant at his home. They said the police and District Attorney’s Office are seeking the public’s help in locating Rebecca Concepcion, Michael Jackson, and Victor Pacheco, for whom arrest warrants have been filed in the City of Middletown Court. Anyone with information concerning their whereabouts should contact the City of Middletown Police Department.

The remaining defendants were arrested, arraigned, and released under bail reform laws on July 27. Procedurally, the cases against all the defendants will be presented to an Orange County grand jury, officials said. “There are still those who think that they can sell narcotics with impunity if they insulate themselves through the use of intermediaries,” said Hoovler. “This case exemplifies the benefits of coordinated and dedicated enforcement actions by police and prosecutors, and why no one who traffics narcotics in Orange County can hope to evade law enforcement.”

 

He added, “I commend the City of Middletown Police Department for commencing with this investigation and appreciating the benefits that 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.”

 

The Orange County DA continued, “This operation helped to disrupt the flow of narcotics being trafficked in Middletown and Port Jervis by bringing drug dealers, including Michael Rodriguez, to justice. It is unconscionable that the director of a respected group which has pledged to reduce gun violence and help at-risk youth would, himself, choose to become a major drug dealer, himself, and commit weapons offences. I hope that the poor example he has set does not disillusion vulnerable youth who might be tempted to follow his example.”

 

Hoovler said if they did, they will surely also follow Rodriguez to prison. “Cooperation and coordination between law enforcement agencies is essential when combating major narcotics traffickers,” he continued. “We are truly fortunate that the law enforcement agencies in Orange County are committed to working together for public safety.”

 

Meanwhile, City of Middletown Police Chief John Ewanciw said in part of the case, “I commend the dedicated detectives and police officers of the City of Middletown Police Department for their unwavering efforts in this case. I also commend and thank all of the other agencies who worked with us in this investigation. Law enforcement works best when agencies work together.”

For his part, Arteta added, “I know firsthand how dynamic these lengthy investigations are. They require a tremendous amount of resources, time and effort. We were happy to assist the City of Middletown Police Department in bringing this case to a close with a successful end product, shutting down a large-scale drug operation. I will continue to provide the resources on a county level to our partnering agencies; this drug-related activity will not be tolerated in our communities.”

 

City of Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden echoed the same sentiments, saying, in part, “This case underscores the value of inter-agency collaboration in combating illegal narcotics trafficking. Drug dealers do not recognize geographical boundaries, and successful outcomes are achieved when law enforcement agencies work collaboratively.”

 

The maximum sentence for the Class A-I felony of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first degree with a prior felony conviction is 24 years in state prison, officials said. The maximum sentence for the Class B felony of conspiracy in the second degree with no prior felony conviction is 8 and 1/3 years to 25 years in state prison. The maximum sentence for that charge with a prior felony conviction is 12 and a half to 25 years in state prison.

 

Officials said the maximum sentence for the Class B felony of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree is nine years in state prison and the maximum sentences for those charges with a prior felony conviction is twelve years in state prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory, who officials said also aided in the investigation.

 

When we asked Rodriguez on the day of the July 14 peace rally in Fordham Manor if there was any specific title he wanted us to reference in our story as regards his role within B.R.A.G., he replied, “Yes….. I’m better known as ‘Love’ in a community.”

 

A criminal charge is merely an allegation by the police 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.

 

*David Greene and Miriam Quiñones contributed to this story.