Michigan

Second Florida man sentenced for stealing rent checks in Michigan

Published

1 month ago

November 15, 2024

Second Florida man sentenced for stealing rent checks in Michigan

A second Florida man was sentenced on Thursday for stealing rent checks in four Michigan counties.

Rafael Rodriguez, 44, was sentenced at the 42nd Circuit Court to serve between six and 20 years in prison, the Michigan Department of Attorney General announced in a press release.

Rodriguez, along with co-defendant Juan Miguel Rodriguez-Venegas, of Florida, stole money orders and cash from apartment complex drop boxes and mobile home parks between 2019 and 2022, according to the release.

The two men targeted residences in Oakland, Saginaw, Bay and Midland Counties, according to the release. The Midland County Prosecutor’s Office and Department of Attorney General filed joint charges in March.

Both men pleaded guilty in August to one count of conducting a criminal enterprise and agreed to pay restitution.

Rodriguez-Venegas, 55, was sentenced to serve between two to 20 years in prison in September.

Reached Friday, Rodriguez’ attorney, Mitchell Manwell, declined to comment on the case.

“Michiganders work hard and deserve better than having their rent payments fished out of drop boxes and stolen by criminals,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said at the time Rodriguez pled, according to the release. “Thanks to our partnership with Midland County Prosecuting Attorney J. Dee Brooks, the perpetrators of this scheme will be held accountable and required to compensate these rent-theft victims.”

Rodriguez’ sentencing is the latest development in a case of stolen checks in Michigan.

A former Warren nursing home manager was charged in September for allegedly stealing more than $7,792 in checks from eight nursing home residents. The Southfield man was charged with six embezzlement counts.

Check fraud cases escalated from 350,000 reports of check fraud in 2021 to approximately 680,000 in 2023, the Associated Press reported. Postal authorities and bank officials warned Americans to avoid mailing checks or to use secure mail drops inside post offices.

Check usage has been on the decline for decades with credit and debit cards’ popularity surging. The average size of checks Americans rose from $673 in 1990 – or $1,602 in today’s dollars – to $2,652 last year, per AP.

Source link

Click to comment

Michigan

Weather alert issued for dense fog in 23 Michigan counties until 1 a.m. EST Monday

Published

7 hours ago

December 15, 2024

Press Room

Weather alert issued for dense fog in 23 Michigan counties until 1 a.m. EST Monday

The National Weather Service issued a report at 9:13 p.m. EST on Sunday for dense fog until Monday at 1 a.m. EST for Mason, Lake, Osceola, Clare, Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, Muskegon, Montcalm, Gratiot, Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Clinton, Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun and Jackson counties.

“Patchy dense fog can be expected tonight, especially through roughly 100am. Visibilities at times will drop to a quarter of a mile or less. The fog is expected to be somewhat short lived however as winds will be on the increase overnight which should act to improve visibility. If traveling through 100am be prepared to encounter changeable visibility over short distances. Overnight improving visibility is expected,” states the weather service.

Source link

Michigan

Michigan set to host Cal State Poly OL transfer Brady Norton on a visit

Published

15 hours ago

December 15, 2024

Press Room

Michigan set to host Cal State Poly OL transfer Brady Norton on a visit

Michigan is set to host one of the top offensive linemen in the FCS ranks as Cal State Poly tackle Brady Norton will be in Ann Arbor this week.

Maize & Blue Review confirmed that he will be on campus on Monday.

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound redshirt freshman had an impressive debut season for the Mustangs, as Pro Football Focus graded the California native with a 90.6 pass-blocking grade for the 2024 season, which is No. 8 in all of FCS.

He appeared in 11 games this season.

The Wolverines are looking for depth across the offensive line as the program has lost multiple linemen to the transfer portal.

U-M also recently hosted Liberty OL Jordan White for a visit and plans to have Northwestern OL Josh Thompson on campus this week.

—

Discuss this article with our community on our premium message boards

Not a subscriber to Maize & Blue Review? Sign up today to gain access to all the latest Michigan intel M&BR has to offer

Follow our staff on Twitter: @JoshHenschke, @Berry_Seth14, @TrevorMcCue, @DennisFithian, @BrockHeilig, @JimScarcelli, @Jerry_Diorio

Subscribe to our podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify

Check out Maize & Blue Review’s video content on YouTube

Follow Maize & Blue Review on social media: Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and BlueSky

Source link

Michigan

Michigan hockey answers the bell in final game before winter break

Published

22 hours ago

December 15, 2024

Press Room

Michigan hockey answers the bell in final game before winter break

Michigan vs Wisconsin men’s ice hockey game twoJosh Boland

ANN ARBOR – Michigan head hockey coach Brandon Naurato smiled wryly before answering the first question at his postgame news conference Saturday.

“My mental health is in a good place,” he quipped.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Source link