Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Brian Rodriguez has been indicted on charges of burglary, grand larceny and other crimes for illegally occupying a single-family home in Flushing and renting out rooms to others. When the homeowner regained access to the property and changed the locks, the defendant forced himself back inside the home and claimed that he was a legal tenant but had no proof.

District Attorney Katz said: “Criminal charges will be pursued when you unlawfully occupy someone else’s home. You cannot just enter a home and claim you have a right to stay. You cannot first enter a home without permission, then stay without permission and later claim vested rights simply because the legitimate owner is unaware or has been unable to remove you for 30 days. The defendant in this case is alleged to have entered and stayed in this home unlawfully. He has now been charged with burglary and grand larceny.”

Rodriguez, 35, of 161^st Street in East Flushing, was arraigned today on a five-count indictment charging him with burglary in the second degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, criminal trespass in the second degree and criminal mischief in the fourth degree.

Rodriguez faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino ordered him to return to court May 13.

According to the charges:

• On February 17, 2024, Adele Andaloro made a regularly scheduled stop to check on the 160^th Street home she inherited from her father in 2004 and found that the front door had been changed without her permission. She had last visited the home on January 21, 2024, and it was unoccupied and unchanged.
• Over the course of the next several days, Andaloro observed Rodriguez inside home. She had never met the defendant nor had given him permission to access the property.
• On February 19, when confronted by Andaloro, Rodriguez claimed that he was leasing the property but did not specify a leasing company, individual or agent.
• On February 29, the homeowner observed several others staying in her house without permission. After one of these occupants left the location with the front door ajar, Andaloro entered the property and observed that several new locks have been added to the front door.
• She called a locksmith and immediately changed the locks.
• Later that same day, Rodriguez came to the location and forced his way into the residence by pushing the door open as the homeowner struggled to keep the door closed while ordering him to leave the premises.
• When police officers arrived at the scene, Rodriguez claimed that he was a legal tenant being harassed by the owner to unlawfully evict him. Andaloro was then removed from the property.
• Andaloro met with the Queens District Attorney’s office and an investigation was launched by the District Attorney’s Housing and Worker Protection Bureau.
• Following the grand jury indictment secured by the District Attorney’s office, Rodriguez surrendered to the DA’s Detective Bureau earlier today.

Assistant District Attorney William Jorgenson, Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Housing and Worker Protection Bureau, is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Christina Hanophy, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard A. Brave.