Waterbury Woman Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Violent Carjacking, Stalking

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EMILY RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Emy,” 30, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in a violent carjacking and stalking.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of June 18, 2023, two all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”) were stolen from Rodriguez’s Waterbury residence.  At the time, Rodriguez was living with Ricardo Verdejo.  After the theft, Rodriguez, Verdejo, and others posted messages on Facebook seeking to identify the individuals responsible for the theft and offering money for information about the location of the stolen vehicles.  Rodriguez, Verdejo, Michael McCann-Ortiz and, Luis Cruz, then mistakenly identified an individual (“Victim 1”), who they incorrectly believed was involved in the theft.

Later that night, Victim 1’s friend, (“Victim 2”), picked up Victim 1 from work and drove him home.  As they arrived at Victim 1’s residence, three vehicles followed them and surrounded the victims.  Verdejo, who carried an assault-style rifle, McCann-Ortiz, Cruz, and others exited the vehicles and approached the victims while Rodriguez watched.  Verdejo and his associates demanded the return of the stolen ATVs, threatened to kill the victims, and physically assaulted them.  Verdejo smacked one victim in the head and then used the barrel of the rifle to strike both victims in the face. McCann-Ortiz repeatedly threatened to kill the victims, and punched and kicked one victim, causing serious bodily injury. Cruz, who was recovering from a leg injury, used a crutch to repeatedly strike one of the victims.

Rodriguez, Verdejo, McCann-Ortiz, and Cruz then stole Victim 2’s vehicle, which was owned by Victim 2’s relative, and other items and cash belonging to the victims.  In the following days, Rodriguez, Verdejo, and their associates continued to harass and threaten the victims via Facebook and by using Victim 2’s phone, to which they had obtained the passcode.

Rodriguez was arrested on March 21, 2024, and has been detained since April 18, 2024.  On May 27, 2025, she pleaded guilty to stalking resulting in serious bodily injury or involving the use of a dangerous weapon.

Verdejo, McCann-Ortiz, and Cruz also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.

This investigation was led by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force, and the Waterbury Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Guevremont and David T. Huang.