NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 36-year-old man was sentenced to two years in prison for illegally occupying a single-family home and renting out rooms to others, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Friday.
Brian Rodriguez was also sentenced to five years post release supervision.
According to prosecutors, Rodriguez forced himself into the house after the homeowner attempted to regain access, then falsely claimed that he was a legal tenant facing eviction and harassment.
"Brian Rodriguez thought that he could get away with squatting inside
someone else’s home and make a profit for himself based on his fictitious account of being a tenant," District Attorney Katz said.
Rodriguez, of East Flushing, pleaded guilty in January to falsely reporting an incident. sentenced him today to a determinate term of two years in prison and five years post release supervision.
According to the investigation, on Feb. 17, 2024, owner Adele Andaloro discovered that someone had changed the front door locks without her authorization at her unoccupied Flushing home on 160th Street.
Andaloro last entered the home on Jan. 21, 2024, and found the property to be secure.
After Feb. 17, Andaloro observed Rodriguez, whom she had never met, inside the house several times. She had never given him permission to access the property, prosecutors said.
On Feb. 19, Andaloro confronted Rodriguez who claimed that he was leasing the property but did not specify a leasing company, individual or agent.
On Feb. 29, the homeowner observed several others staying in her house, also without permission. After one of these occupants left the location with the front door ajar, Andaloro entered the property and observed tha tseveral new locks have been added to the front door. She then called a locksmith and immediately changed the locks.
Later that same day, Rodriguez showed up and attempted to regain access to the premises.
Andaloro struggled to keep the door closed while ordering Rodriguez to leave. Rodriguez eventually pushed the door open, forcing his way inside.
When police officers arrived at the scene, Rodriguez falsely claimed that he was a legal tenant being unlawfully evicted and harassed by the owner and Andaloro was removed from the property.
"As today’s sentencing proves, my office has prioritized removing those who enter a home without permission and returning the property to the rightful owner. I thank my Housing and Worker Protection Bureau for ensuring that justice was served. The defendant will now spend two years in prison for his criminal actions and the lawful homeowner has her property back," D.A. Katz added.