An alleged squatter accused of living in a million-dollar home while making money renting rooms to others has finally been charged.
Brian Rodriguez was charged Thursday on charges of burglary, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal trespass and criminal mischief.
In February, homeowner Adele Andaloro was checking out the house in Flushing, Queens, that she had inherited when she noticed the front door had been changed.
Prosecutors say that over several days, Andaloro saw Rodriguez inside the property and he claimed he was renting the property.
Andaloro allegedly saw several other people living in the house, including one leaving the door open. After gaining entry, she changed the locks to regain access.
After Rodriguez returned, he significantly handcuffed Andaloro and took away the million-dollar property after claiming he was the legal tenant.
Andaloro allegedly saw several other people living in the house, including one leaving the door open
Brian Rodriguez, seen here, was charged Thursday with burglary, grand theft, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal trespass and criminal mischief.
Rodriguez previously claimed he was the victim of a fraudulent business transaction and would leave if he received $18,000.
A handful of alleged squatters at the four-bedroom house claimed they were lawful residents of the property and were paying rent to a person named “Jay”.
Jay turned out to be Rodriguez who previously told the New York Post that he had been scammed into “renting” the house with a fake lease drawn up by a fraudulent real estate agent.
He said he went into business to profit from what he thought was a city-run program that paid landlords $1,000 a month to accommodate migrants. But no such program exists.
Rodriguez wanted Andaloro to pay him the $18,000 he spent on plumbing, electrical, painting and cleaning repairs he claims he paid for.
In his account of events, Rodriguez was scammed by a well-dressed man at a Flushing laundromat whom he met last December and quickly agreed to go into business with a house in which he could rent and rent rooms.
The man, “Ronnie Ferg,” claimed to be a real estate broker and offered Rodriguez a lease for the 1,646-square-foot, four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, to which Ferg had a key.
Rodriguez dramatically handcuffed the Andaloro owner and took away the million-dollar property after claiming he was the legal tenant.
Brian Rodriguez offered to move out of the house with his tenants, if Andaloro would reimburse him for the work allegedly done to the house – an amount he said was well over $18,000.
Andaloro was arrested for changing the locks, which is illegal under New York City’s eviction law. She promised to take legal action in court.
The lease was signed for an agreed upon amount of $3,200 per month and Rodriguez then began renting rooms in the house.
“I rented the rooms to locals who need 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,” he said.
Andaloro previously told ABC7 New York: “It’s infuriating. It really is. It’s not fair that I, as the owner, have to experience this.
Andaloro was arrested for changing the locks, which is illegal under New York City’s illegal eviction law.
In New York State, squatters who openly and adversely occupy a property for 10 continuous years can file a claim for adverse possession, provided they have paid property taxes during that decade.
In New York, however, squatters are granted rights after just 30 days, meaning that landlords must begin eviction proceedings as soon as a squatter has been discovered.
A woman crouching inside looks out the window to witness a confrontation.
Kevin Balletsy, left, claims to have a lease for the basement of the property, the other man, right, was seen walking back and forth from the house.
A delivery driver waits outside the house after the squatters inside order food.
District Attorney Katz said, “Criminal charges will be filed when you illegally occupy someone else’s home.
“You can’t just walk into a house and claim you have the right to stay there. You can’t first enter a home without permission, then stay there without permission and then claim grandfathering just because the rightful owner doesn’t know about it or hasn’t been able to evict you for 30 days.
“The accused in this case allegedly entered and remained in this house illegally. He has now been charged with burglary and grand theft.
If convicted, Rodriguez faces up to 15 years in prison and is due back in court next month.
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