Nessel Email Header




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*

August 30, 2024




*Media Contact:
*Danny Wimmer <[email protected]>






Second Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Rent Checks Across Michigan  





*LANSING* – Rafael Rodriguez, 44, of Florida, pled guilty today to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony, in the 42nd Circuit Court in Midland County for rent thefts across the eastern half of the State, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. As part of the plea, Rodriguez has agreed to a restitution order of $36,235. Juan Miguel Rodriguez-Venegas, 55, of Florida, who pled guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise [ [link removed] ] for the same crime earlier this month, has also agreed to pay $36,235 in restitution.  

From 2019 to 2022, the two men stole money orders and cash out of drop boxes at apartment complexes and mobile home parks in the counties of Bay, Midland, Oakland, and Saginaw. 

“Michiganders work hard and deserve better than having their rent payments fished out of drop boxes and stolen by criminals,” Nessel said. “Thanks to our partnership with Midland County Prosecuting Attorney J. Dee Brooks, the perpetrators of this scheme will be held accountable and required to compensate these rent-theft victims.” 

The Midland County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges jointly with the Department of Attorney General [ [link removed] ] against Rodriguez and Rodriguez-Venegas in March.  

“We are extremely pleased that these cases have been successfully prosecuted as a result of the partnership between the Attorney General’s Office and the Midland County Prosecutor’s Office,” said J. Dee Brooks, Midland County Prosecuting Attorney. “We believe that this case sends a strong message that even out of state actors will be held responsible for their criminal acts in Michigan. I, again, want to thank Det. Mark Stefaniak and the Midland Police Department, as well as the other involved police agencies, for their excellent police work. Also, thanks again to Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Lippitt and Midland County Assistant Prosecutor Courtney Driscoll, for their great work in prosecuting the case.” 

Rafael Rodriguez will be sentenced in front of Judge Michael J. Beale in the 42nd Circuit Court in Midland County on November 14, 2024, and Juan Miguel Rodriguez-Venegas will be sentenced in front of Judge Stephen P. Carras on September 26, 2024.

"###"






AG logo [ [link removed] ]





*Media Inquiries* <[email protected]>




*Latest Releases* [ [link removed] ]




*File a Complaint* [ [link removed] ]







________________________________________________________________________

Michigan Department of the Attorney General [ [link removed] ]   Questions?
  Contact Us [ [link removed] ]

STAY CONNECTED: Visit us on Twitter [ [link removed] ] Instagram logo [ [link removed] ] Visit us on Facebook [ [link removed] ] YouTube [ [link removed] ] Sign up for email updates [ [link removed] ]      

Bookmark and Share [ [link removed] ]

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ]  | Help [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Attorney General · G. Mennen Williams Building, 7th Floor · 525 W. Ottawa St., P.O. Box 30212 · Lansing, MI 48909 · 517-373-1100