NYC Squatter Who Took Over Million Dollar Home is Now ‘Squatting’ in Prison [WATCH]

A man who orchestrated a bizarre and deceptive takeover of a $1 million home in Queens has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Brian Rodriguez, 36, was convicted after his attempt to illegally claim residence in the home of Adele Andaloro, a woman who inherited the property, sparked widespread concern about predatory squatters in the city.

Rodriguez’s actions began in early 2024, when Andaloro returned to her family home on 160th Street in Flushing to find it filled with squatters and the locks changed.

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Upon confronting Rodriguez, he falsely claimed to be leasing the property, leading to a confusing and ultimately violent encounter.

Despite the property’s rightful owner trying to regain control, the situation escalated further when Rodriguez managed to convince NYPD officers that he was the legitimate tenant and that he was being wrongfully evicted.

The incident reached a disturbing peak when officers, initially convinced by Rodriguez’s claims, handcuffed Andaloro while a news crew filmed the confrontation.

BREAKING: NYC homeowner is arrested for changing the locks of her home to kick out squatters who broke in.

In New York, people illegally living in your property automatically become the legal
tenants after 30 days.

NYPD police arrested Adele Andaloro for unlawful eviction of… pic.twitter.com/YyaMxCe7wy

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 19, 2024

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This public spectacle was caught on camera and later played a pivotal role in helping Andaloro’s case.

“It got uglier before it got better, and I’m just happy everything’s done now,” she said outside the Queens courtroom after Rodriguez’s sentencing on Friday.

Andaloro had inherited the home from her parents but found herself in a nightmare scenario when Rodriguez illegally took possession of the property.

After replacing the locks, Andaloro discovered Rodriguez had rented out rooms within the house.

Rodriguez’s story only grew stranger as he insisted he had been scammed into renting the house by a mysterious man named “Ronnie Ferg,” whom he had met at a laundromat.

New York City law allows squatters to claim legal rights to a property after 30 days of occupation, further complicating the situation for Andaloro.

However, prosecutors in Queens were able to build a case against Rodriguez, charging him with falsely claiming to be a tenant facing eviction and engaging in harassment.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to falsely reporting an incident in January, which led to his two-year sentence.

At the court hearing, he appeared in a black sweatsuit, flanked by two women, one of whom was seen sobbing loudly during the proceedings.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz issued a statement following the sentencing, condemning Rodriguez’s actions.

“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,” Katz said.

For Andaloro, the sentencing brought a sense of relief, though she expressed a desire to move on from the ordeal.

“Go back to a regular, boring everyday life,” she said, reflecting on the tumultuous events that disrupted her family’s history and home.

Rodriguez’s sentencing marks the end of a disturbing chapter for Andaloro, who can now finally regain full control of her property.

The case has also highlighted ongoing concerns over squatting and the potential for abuse within the city’s housing laws.

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