NY Officer Gets Jail for Conning Thousands Off Immigrants

With phony applications

A former Wappingers Falls police officer has been sentenced to one year in Dutchess County Jail after he admitted he conned immigrants who sought driver's licenses and immigration assistance out of more than $13,000.

Miguel A. Rodriguez, 54, of New Windsor, was sentenced to jail time in Dutchess County Court today. He pleaded guilty on July 15 to third-degree grand larceny and first-degree scheme to defraud, both felonies.

Rodriguez, who worked as a liaison to the Latino community in Wappingers Falls, admitted he charged victims $500 to $1,000 for "asylum and withholding of removal" applications. He said he falsely promised the applications would be reviewed by an attorney and filed with immigration authorities.