New York cracks down on the $1 million squatter: Queens illegal tenant who’s been living rent-free without  a care in the world for months is finally moved on

An alleged squatter accused of living in a $1 million home while making money by renting bedrooms to others has finally been charged.

Brian Rodriguez was charged Thursday on charges of burglary, grand theft, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal trespass and criminal mischief.

Homeowner Adele Andaloro had checked on the Flushing, Queens, house she inherited in February when she realized the front door had been changed.

Prosecutors say Andaloro witnessed Rodriguez at the property for several days, and he claimed he was renting the property.

Andaloro allegedly saw several others living in the house, with one leaving the door open. After getting inside, she changed the locks to regain access.

After Rodriguez returned, he had Andaloro dramatically cuffed and led away from the $1 million property after claiming he was the legal tenant.

Brian Rodriguez, seen here, was arraigned Thursday on charges of burglary, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal trespass and criminal mischief

Rodriguez had previously claimed he was the victim of a fraudulent business deal and would leave if he was paid $18,000.

A handful of alleged squatters in the four-bedroom house claimed they were legitimate residents of the property and had paid rent to someone called ‘Jay’.

Jay turned out to be Rodriguez who previously told the New York Post that he had been scammed into “renting” the house with a fake lease created by a fraudulent real estate agent.

He claimed he was in business in an attempt to make money from what he thought was a city program that pays landlords $1,000 a month to take in migrants. But such a program does not exist.

Rodriguez wanted Andaloro to pay him the $18,000 he invested in plumbing, electrical, painting and cleaning repairs he said he paid for.

In his recounting of events, Rodriguez was defrauded by a well-dressed man at a Flushing laundromat whom he met last December and who promptly agreed to do business in a house he could rent and rent out rooms.

The man, “Ronnie Ferg,” claimed to be a real estate agent and offered Rodriguez a lease on the four-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,600-square-foot house, to which Ferg had a key.

Rodriguez dramatically cuffed homeowner Andaloro and led away from $1 million property after claiming he was the legal tenant

Brian Rodriguez offered to vacate the home along with his tenants if Andaloro would reimburse him for the work allegedly done on the home — an amount he said totals more than $18,000.

Andaloro was arrested for changing the locks, which is illegal under New York City’s eviction law. She has promised to take legal action in court

The lease was signed for an agreed price of $3,200 per month and Rodriguez then began renting out rooms in the house.

‘I rented out the rooms to local people who needed places to sleep. They work for Uber and Instacart and can’t afford $2,000 a month for an apartment. Some pay $900; some pay $1,000,” he said.

Andaloro told it before ABC7 New York: ‘It’s infuriating. It is real. It’s not fair that I, as a homeowner, have to go through this.”

Andaloro was arrested for changing the locks, which is illegal under New York City’s illegal eviction law.

In New York State, squatters who openly and adversely occupy a property continuously for ten years can file an adverse possession claim, provided they have paid property taxes during that decade.

In New York City, however, squatters are given rights after just 30 days, meaning landlords must initiate eviction proceedings as soon as a squatter is discovered.

A woman, crouched inside, peers through the window at a confrontation

Kevin Balletsy, left, claims he has a lease on the basement of the property, the other man, right, was seen going back and forth from the house

A delivery person waits at the front of the house after the squatters have ordered food inside

District Attorney Katz said, “Criminal charges will be filed if you unlawfully occupy someone else’s home.

‘You can’t just enter a home and claim that you have a right to stay. You cannot first enter a property without permission, then remain without permission and claim later acquired rights simply because the rightful owner has not notified you or has not been able to remove you for 30 days.

‘The suspect in this case is suspected of having unlawfully entered this home and stayed there. He has now been charged with burglary and grand larceny.”

If convicted, Rodriguez faces 15 years behind bars and must return to court next month.