Bridgeport, Conn. — Emily “Emy” Rodriguez was sentenced Monday to over seven years in federal prison for her involvement in a violent stalking and carjacking incident that left two victims injured in Waterbury last June. The court imposed a term of seven years and three months, which will be followed by three years of supervised release after her prison term.
Rodriguez, 30, was arrested in March and has been in custody since April 2024. She pleaded guilty on May 27 to charges of stalking that resulted in serious bodily injury and involved a dangerous weapon. The violent encounter, which caught the attention of federal authorities, occurred after the theft of two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) from Rodriguez’s home.
In the early hours of June 18, 2023, Rodriguez, along with a group of accomplices—including Ricardo Verdejo—took to social media in an attempt to recover the stolen ATVs. They offered monetary rewards for information, which set off a chain of events that escalated into a violent confrontation.
The situation turned alarming when the group mistakenly identified one individual as being responsible for the theft. Shortly after, that individual was targeted while returning home from work. As he arrived, he was approached and surrounded by several vehicles driven by Rodriguez and her accomplices.
Wielding an assault rifle, Verdejo exited his vehicle, flanked by Rodriguez and two other males, Michael McCann-Ortiz and Luis Cruz. They confronted the victims, making aggressive demands for the return of the stolen property and resorting to physical violence.
Verdejo struck one victim in the head and threatened both individuals with death. Under heightened threats of violence, McCann-Ortiz and Cruz also participated, with one of them using a crutch to inflict additional harm on the victims. The violent assault left the victims significantly injured, complicating their recovery.
Following the attack, Rodriguez’s group continued their threats via social media, hacking into the second victim’s Facebook account to harass him further. The relentless pursuit of their targets further emphasizes the case’s chilling implications, as it reflects a disturbing pattern of intimidation and control.
Rodriguez’s sentencing is part of a broader legal action against her and her accomplices, all of whom have pleaded guilty to related charges over the course of these events in 2023 and 2024. The case, spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force in conjunction with local authorities, highlights the challenges of gang-related violence in the region.
As the court proceedings conclude, Rodriguez’s case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by escalated conflict stemming from personal disputes, with far-reaching consequences for all involved.