NYC Mayor's Anti-Violence Advocate Busted on Drug and Weapons Charges

A major player in New York Mayor Eric Adams’ effort to reduce violence and drug crimes in the city was arrested in a massive upstate gun and narcotics bust involving 15 suspects in upstate Orange County.

The mayor was counting on Michael Rodriguez, 48, head of Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence (BRAG), to help curb shootings and street crimes. Instead, he was charged by the Orange District Attorney’s office with supplying drugs to dealers in Middletown and Port Jervis. In a raid of his Yonkers home, cops allegedly found illicit drugs, more than $165,000 in cash, and two illegal guns, a Ruger .380 caliber handgun and a Bond Arms .357-caliber handgun.

Rodriguez’ group, BRAG, is among the grassroots organizations listed as community partners in the city’s “Blueprint to End Gun Violence.” The group’s monicker is ironically similar to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s name, who announced at the beginning of his term that he would not prosecute misdemeanors and other crimes, a pro-criminal stance that has fostered a massive crime wave.

Michael Rodriguez Michael Rodriguez | Linkedin

According to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, the busts were the result of a two-year investigation that netted the 15 suspects, three illegal guns, and more than 1.5 kilograms of crack cocaine. “There are still those who think that they can sell narcotics with impunity if they insulate themselves through the use of intermediaries,” Hoovler said. “This case exemplifies the benefits of coordinated and dedicated enforcement actions by police and prosecutors, and why no one who trafficks narcotics in Orange County can hope to evade law enforcement,” he 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,” Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said. “These charges are the exact opposite of the good work cure violence groups are doing.”

Rodriguez is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, second-degree conspiracy and first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to the Orange County DA. Due to the severity of his alleged crimes, he was not able to skirt the state’s cashless bail law and is being held in an Orange County jail.