Posted on: March 31, 2025 10:25 AM

Share : Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp

Square sentenced to two years in prison for illegally occupying flushing home

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Brian Rodriguez was sentenced to two years in prison for illegally occupying a single-family home in Flushing and renting out rooms to others in February 2024. The defendant forced himself into the house after the homeowner attempted to regain access, then falsely claimed that he was a legal tenant facing eviction and harassment. The incident was captured by a local news crew and generated national attention.

District Attorney Katz said: “Brian Rodriguez thought that he could get away with squatting inside someone else’s home and make a profit for himself based on his fictitious account of being a tenant. As today’s sentencing proves, my office has prioritized removing those who enter a home without permission and returning the property to the rightful owner. I thank my Housing and Worker Protection Bureau for ensuring that justice was served. The defendant will now spend two years in prison for his criminal actions and the lawful homeowner has her property back.”

Rodriguez, 36, of 161st Street in East Flushing, pleaded guilty in January to falsely reporting an incident in the second degree before Supreme Court Justice Leigh Cheng who sentenced him today to a determinate term of two years in prison and five years post release supervision.

According to the charges and investigation, on February 17, 2024, owner Adele Andaloro discovered that someone had changed the front door locks without her authorization at her unoccupied Flushing home on 160th Street. Andaloro last entered the home on January 21, 2024, and found the property to be secure.

After February 17, Andaloro observed the defendant inside the house several times. She had never met the defendant, nor had she given him permission to access the property.

On February 19, Andaloro confronted Rodriguez. He 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, also without permission. After one of these occupants departed the house, leaving the front door ajar, Andaloro went inside and saw several new locks on the front door. She called a locksmith and had the locks replaced.

Later that same day, Rodriguez showed up and attempted to regain access to the premises. Andaloro struggled to keep the door closed while ordering the defendant to leave. Rodriguez eventually pushed the door open, forcing his way inside.

When police officers arrived at the scene, Rodriguez falsely claimed that he was a legal tenant being unlawfully evicted and harassed by the owner and Andaloro was removed from the property.

From DA