FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: AUGUST 27, 2018
SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE – WILLIE RODRIGUEZ CONVICTION
On Friday August 24, 2018, an Ulster County jury found Willie Rodriguez, age 31, of Kingston, NY, guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the second degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree.
The case arose on December 22nd, 2017, when members of the NYSP and the Ulster County URGENT Task Force, received information about the location of two stolen handguns. The agencies, working together, conducted an undercover sting operation at 79 Livingston Street in the Village of Saugerties to recover the weapons. That operation resulted in the arrest of 3 people; Skylar Eichert; Willie Rodriguez and Gina Julian.
Skylar Eichert, who was charged with selling the weapons, pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the second degree on April 23, 2018.Gina Julian was charged with various heroin related charges and pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree on May 16, 2018. Rodriguez was charged with having purchased one of the weapons along with possessing 120 bags of heroin with the intent to sell and was convicted after a jury trial.
Sentencing for Rodriguez is scheduled for October 25, 2018 in front of Judge Donald A. Williams. Skylar Eichert was previously sentenced to 10 years in state prison. Gina Julian’s sentence is pending.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Timothy Lawson with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Jarrid Blades. The defendant was represented by attorney Edward Bruno.