A Waterbury woman has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for her role in the violent assault of two people who were mistakenly blamed for an ATV theft.
Emily Rodriguez, also known as “Emy,” 30, faced sentencing this week in federal court in Bridgeport where U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley handed down an 87-month prison term, to be followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
The sentence came after Rodriguez took a plea deal in May, pleading guilty to stalking resulting in serious bodily injury or involving the use of a dangerous weapon.
Federal officials said two ATVs were stolen from her residence in the early morning hours on June 18, 2023. At the time, she was living with Ricardo Verdejo.
Following the theft, Rodriguez, Verdejo and others posted messages on Facebook asking for help identifying the theft suspects and offering money in exchange for information, authorities said. Officials said Rodriguez, Verdejo, Michael McCann-Ortiz and Luis Cruz then mistakenly identified a man who they believed was responsible for the theft.
Later in the night, the victim was picked up from work by a friend and driven home. As they arrived, three vehicles surrounded them.
Federal officials said Verdejo, who was armed with an assault-style rifle, McCann-Ortiz, Cruz and others got out of the vehicles and approached the two victims while Rodriguez watched. Verdejo and his associates demanded the return of the stolen ATVs, threatened to kill the victims and assaulted them, authorities said.
Verdejo smacked one of the victims in the head and used the barrel of the rifle to strike both victims in the face, officials allege. McCann-Ortiz repeatedly threatened to kill the victims, and punched and kicked one of them, causing a serious injury, according to authorities.
Cruz, who was recovering from a leg injury, used a crutch to repeatedly strike one of the victims, officials said.
Rodriguez, Verdejo, McCann-Ortiz and Cruz stole the vehicle the victims arrived in as well as cash and other items from them, authorities said.
In the following days, Rodriguez, Verdejo and their associates allegedly continued to harass and threaten the victims on Facebook using one of their phones, officials said.
Rodriguez was arrested in March 2024 and has been in custody since April 18, 2024. Verdejo, McCann-Ortiz, and Cruz have also pleaded guilty and faced sentencing.