An alleged squatter accused of living in a million-dollar home while making money renting rooms to other people has finally been charged.
Brian Rodríguez was accused Thursday on charges of robbery, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, burglary and criminal mischief.
Homeowner Adele Andaloro had been checking out the Flushing, Queens, home she inherited in February when she noticed the front door had been changed.
Prosecutors say that for several days Andaloro saw Rodriguez inside the property and claimed he was renting the property.
Andaloro reportedly saw several other people living in the house, and one of them left the door open. After entering, she changed the locks to gain access again.
After Rodriguez returned, he dramatically handcuffed Andaloro and took the $1 million property after claiming he was the legal tenant.
Andaloro reportedly saw several other people living in the house, and one of them left the door open.
Brian Rodriguez, seen here, was indicted Thursday on charges of robbery, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, burglary and criminal mischief.
Rodríguez had previously claimed that he was the victim of a fraudulent business and would leave if he was paid $18,000.
A handful of alleged squatters in the four-bedroom house claimed they were legitimate residents of the property who had been paying rent to someone called ‘Jay.’
Jay turned out to be Rodriguez, who previously told the New York Post that he was scammed into “renting” the house with a fake lease drawn up by a fraudulent real estate agent.
He claimed he started a business in an attempt to cash in on what he thought was a city-run program that pays homeowners $1,000 a month to take in immigrants. But such a program does not exist.
Rodriguez wanted Andaloro to pay him the $18,000 he contributed for plumbing, electrical, painting and cleaning repairs that he claims he paid for.
Recounting the events, Rodriguez was scammed by a well-dressed man at a Flushing laundromat whom he met last December and quickly agreed to do business with a house he could rent out and rent rooms.
The man, ‘Ronnie Ferg,’ claimed to be a real estate broker and offered Rodriguez a lease for the four-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,646-square-foot home, to which Ferg had a key.
Rodriguez dramatically had owner Andaloro handcuffed and took the $1 million property after claiming he was the legal tenant.
Brian Rodríguez offered to leave the house, along with his tenants, if Andaloro would reimburse him for the work allegedly done on the house, an amount he said amounted to more than $18,000.
Andaloro was arrested for changing the locks, which is illegal under New York City eviction law; She has vowed to take legal action in court.
The lease was signed for an agreed upon amount of $3,200 per month and Rodriguez subsequently began renting rooms in the house.
‘I rented the rooms to local people who needed a place to sleep. They work for Uber and Instacart and can’t afford $2,000 a month for an apartment. Some pay $900; some pay $1,000,” she said.
Andaloro said previously ABC7 New York: ‘It’s furious. Really is. “It’s not fair that I, as the homeowner, have to go through this.”
Andaloro was arrested for changing the locks, which is illegal under New York City’s unlawful eviction law.
In New York State, squatters who openly and adversely occupy property for 10 continuous years can file an adverse possession claim, as long as they have paid property taxes for that decade.
In New York City, however, squatters are granted rights after only 30 days, meaning that landlords must begin eviction proceedings as soon as the squatter is discovered.
A woman, crouched inside, looks out the window to witness a confrontation.
Kevin Balletsy, left, claims he has a lease for the basement of the property; The other man, on the right, was seen coming and going from the house.
A delivery man waits in front of the house after the squatters inside asked for food.
District Attorney Katz said: ‘Criminal charges will be filed when you unlawfully occupy another person’s home.
‘You can’t just walk into a house and claim you have the right to stay. You cannot first enter a home without permission, then stay without permission, and then claim grandfathering simply because the rightful owner does not know or has not been able to remove you for 30 days.
‘It is alleged that the accused in this case entered and remained in this house illegally. He has now been charged with robbery and grand larceny.
If convicted, Rodriguez faces up to 15 years behind bars and was ordered to return to court next month.