Bronx man pleads guilty to blowing through Ogdensburg Port of Entry, possessing handgun ammo
Miguel Rodriguez, 36, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court, Utica, to the high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, according to press release announced by U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Ogdensburg Port of Entry Director Thomas Trimboli.
According to the press release, Rodriguez admitted to driving through the U.S. Customs Port of Entry at Ogdensburg on the morning of Jan. 20 while driving a red Infinity sedan without stopping and reporting for inspection.
Just hours before, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed that Rodriguez did not stop at the Lansdowne Port of Entry at approximately 8:30 a.m. The Lansdowne port of entry is at the very end of Interstate 81 on Wellesley Island in Ontario, Canada.
A deputy from the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office attempted to stop Rodriguez a short time later but the driver refused to stop leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase, up to 65 mph on city streets, that ended with him striking a pick-up truck occupied by three people and then crashing into 115 New York Avenue. No one was injured in the crash.
Court documents state that the car Rodriguez was driving was a 2021 Infiniti Q50 that had New Jersey registration and a check of the registration by the Sheriff's Office found that the Infiniti had been reported stolen from New York City on Nov. 21, 2024.
A search of the Infinity revealed a 12-round handgun magazine containing four 9mm bullets. The press release stated that Rodriguez was prohibited from possessing the ammunition because of a prior felony conviction for assault.
At the time of his arrest, Rodriguez was charged by sheriff's deputies with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal mischief and third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.
Rodriguez will be sentenced on the federal charges July 17 and faces a maximum term of 15 years in prison for the ammunition possession and a maximum of five years in prison for fleeing from the Port of Entry, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer is prosecuting the case which was investigated by HSI and Customs and Border Protection.
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