FILE – In this Nov. 29, 2018 file photo, Annmarie Drago appears at Suffolk County District Court in Central Islip, N.Y. Drago, who drove her SUV in September 2018 over Evelyn Rodriguez, a New York mother saluted by President Donald Trump for her crusade against MS-13 gang violence, was found guilty of all charges Wednesday, March 11, 2020. (Barry Sloan/Newsday via AP, Pool, File)
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — A woman who drove her SUV over a New York mother who had been saluted by President Donald Trump for her crusade against gang violence was found guilty Wednesday of all charges.
Annmarie Drago was convicted of criminally negligent homicide, petit larceny and criminal mischief in the September 2018 death of Evelyn Rodriguez.
Rodriguez became a symbol in the fight against MS-13 gang violence after her 16-year-old daughter was hacked and beaten to death along with a friend on a suburban Long Island street.
She was killed after confronting Drago for trashing a memorial set up for the second anniversary of the girl’s death near the spot where she was slain. Prosecutors said the memorial was in front of Drago’s mother’s home and was concerned it would scare off potential buyers.
The fatal SUV strike was recorded by a television news crew that was rolling as dignitaries, including a congressman, prepared to head to the scene in Brentwood for a vigil.
Drago’s defense team has said she never intended to hurt anyone and was only trying to escape Rodriguez and her companion.
Drago faces up to four years in prison.
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