Florida Man Sentenced for Michigan Theft Scheme

Rafael Rodriguez, a 44-year-old man from Florida, was sentenced to 6 to 20 years in prison for stealing money orders and cash from drop boxes at apartment complexes and mobile home parks in Michigan. This theft occurred over a four-year period from 2019 to 2022 across Bay, Midland, Oakland, and Saginaw counties. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conducting a criminal enterprise and was ordered to pay $27,284 in restitution to victims. His accomplice, Juan Miguel Rodriguez-Venegas, 56, was sentenced to 2 to 20 years in September for the same crime and ordered to pay $36,235 in restitution. The charges were filed jointly by the Midland County Prosecutor’s Office and the Michigan Attorney General's office, reflecting a strong commitment to holding criminals accountable regardless of their residency. Attorney General Dana Nessel emphasized that Michiganders deserve better than having their rent payments stolen.