Bronx Man Convicted Of 2018 Murder During Which He Shot The Victim’s Five-Year-Old Son

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Suave,” was found guilty at trial of the October 23, 2018, murder of Jaquan Millien in connection with a drug trafficking crime.  RODRIGUEZ shot and killed Millien in the Butler Houses in the Bronx, New York.  During the shooting, RODRIGUEZ shot Millien’s five-year-old son, who was with his father at the time.  Thankfully, his son survived.  The verdict followed a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jaquan Millien was bringing his five-year-old son to an after-school program — something parents do in New York City every day — when he was gunned down in his building’s stairwell.  His son not only was shot, but he had to see his father die before his eyes.  Today, a unanimous jury returned a verdict within hours that found Rodriguez shot and killed Millien.  While the verdict cannot bring Millien back, we hope today’s verdict brings some measure of justice for Millien’s family and his community.  We remain committed to ridding our neighborhoods of gun violence, and today’s verdict, made possible by the career prosecutors of this Office and our FBI and NYPD law enforcement partners, is an important step in that fight.”

According to the evidence presented in court during the trial:

Between in or about 2012 and in or about 2018, JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ conspired with others to sell marijuana in an apartment building located at 1408 Webster Avenue (the “Apartment Building”).  In connection with his narcotics dealing, on or about October 23, 2018, RODRIGUEZ followed Jaquan Millien and his son into the Apartment Building and into a stairwell.  RODRIGUEZ then fired multiple shots, killing Jaquan Millien and hitting Millien’s son in the arm.

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RODRIGUEZ, 31, of the Bronx, New York, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of possessing marijuana with intent to distribute for remuneration, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of using a firearm to commit murder during a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the judge.  RODRIGUEZ is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2023.

Mr. Williams thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department for their outstanding work on the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mathew Andrews, Courtney Heavey, and Jim Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist William Coleman.