Bronx Man Sentenced To 38 Years In Prison For 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 today that JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Suave,” was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff to 38 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Jaquan Millien on October 23, 2018.  RODRIGUEZ shot and killed Millien in the Butler Houses in the Bronx, New York, in connection with a drug dispute.  During the shooting, RODRIGUEZ shot Millien’s five-year-old son, who was with his father at the time.  Thankfully, Millien’s son survived.  RODRIGUEZ was convicted following a five-day trial before Judge Rakoff on June 6, 2023.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Inside of a residential building in the Bronx, Joshua Rodriguez targeted, ambushed, and callously murdered Jaquan Millien over a drug dispute.  Worse still, Rodriguez shot and wounded Millien’s five-year-old son who was standing next to his father.  Millien’s son’s gunshot wound has healed, but the scars from witnessing the brutal murder of his father will last a lifetime.  Today’s lengthy sentence is yet another example of this Office’s promise to remain relentless in its prosecution of violent drug dealers.”

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 after Millien picked up his son from school.  RODRIGUEZ cornered Millien and his son in the stairwell and fired multiple shots, killing Millien and hitting Millien’s son in the arm.

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In addition to his prison term, RODRIGUEZ, 31, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

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.