DA Hoovler: Middletown Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty in “Operation Hide in Plain Sight” Narcotics Conspiracy Case
Angelica “Jelly” Rodriguez Pled Guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Conspiracy in the Second and Fourth Degrees
The People Will Recommend an Aggregate Sentence of 10 Years in Prison
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Thursday, November 2, 2023, Angelica “Jelly”Rodriguez, age 39, of Middletown, pled guilty before the Honorable Craig Stephen Brown in the Orange County Court to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Conspiracy in the Second and Fourth Degrees. Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Rodriguez pled guilty, the People will recommend she be sentenced to an aggregate term of ten (10) years in prison to be followed by three (3) years post-release supervision when she returns to court on February 26, 2024.
The City of Middletown Police Department engaged in a two-year long investigation into cocaine trafficking in and around the City of Middletown allegedly committed by Angelica Rodriguez, a/k/a “Jelly,” age 39, of Otisville. The City of Middletown Police Department were later aided in the investigation by the Orange County Drug Taskforce. That Taskforce is run under the supervision of a Senior Criminal Investigator from Orange County District Attorney’s Office and a Senior Investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to personnel from those agencies, the Drug Task Force is composed of police officers from other Orange County police departments. Currently the Town of Montgomery Police Department, the Wallkill Police Department, and the Highlands Police Department have committed to assigning police officers to work on the Task Force.
After conventional investigative means failed to reveal evidence showing the entire extent of the narcotics conspiracy surrounding Angelica Rodriguez, the District Attorney’s Office applied for permission to use court-ordered eavesdropping in the investigation. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the same suppliers of cocaine who were providing Angelica Rodriguez and her co-conspirators with cocaine to sell, were also suppling narcotics to those in the City of Port Jervis. The City of Port Jervis was also active in the investigation. Michael Rodriquez is accused of supplying cocaine to narcotics dealers in the City of Middletown and the City of Port Jervis and possessing two illegal handguns. On July 26, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Michael Rodriguez’s Yonkers residence, which resulted in the seizure of 1516 grams (over 1.5 kilograms) of cocaine, $165,509 in United States currency, scales, a money counter, an unlicensed Ruger .380 caliber pistol, an unlicensed Bond Arms .357 caliber handgun, a vacuum sealer, digital scales and jewelry estimated to have a value of approximately $50,000. It is alleged that Michael Rodriguez regularly supplied cocaine to Angelica Rodriguez, who would sell it in and around Middletown, and Taino Lopez who would sell it in and around Port Jervis.
“High level drug trafficking can only be interrupted by coordinated and cooperative efforts of law enforcement agencies who come together to fight the scourge of narcotics,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “I commend the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation and forworking with the Orange County Drug Taskforce, and other law enforcement agencies such as the City of Port Jervis Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police. The significant sentence anticipated in this case should serve as a deterrent to others who seek to profit from selling drugs. My Office will continue to pursue drug dealers and utilize all resources available to us to bring them to justice.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory, who also aided in the investigation.
This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.