Federal Prosecutors Issue Update Following Tuesday Incident At Palm Beach International Airport.
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The man who allegedly was found with multiple high-powered weapons on the grounds of Palm Beach International Airport is a felon who now remains in federal custody. The United States Department of Justice issued this statement to BocaNewsNow.com:
>> Michael Jeffrey Rodrigues, 41, made his initial appearance in federal court Thursday on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to the complaint, on August 5, Rodrigues parked a rental car in an employee lot at Palm Beach International Airport, where it remained for approximately two hours. During that time, Rodrigues was seen entering and exiting the car multiple times. At one point, Rodrigues walked toward the airport gates carrying a large black case and returned to the car around 7:00 am, still in possession of the case.
Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office made contact with Rodrigues and observed a set of throwing knives inside the case. A database check revealed that the car had been rented, and Rodrigues stated that his father had rented it. Rodrigues authorized deputies to search the car for the rental agreement. Inside the glove compartment, deputies found a loaded magazine. Next to the glove compartment, concealed under a towel, they found a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P-15 rifle along with two additional magazines.
Rodrigues has prior felony convictions in Martin County, Florida. On June 20, 2022, Rodrigues was convicted in Martin County, Florida of Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Introduction of Contraband into a Correctional Facility—both felony offenses under Florida law.
United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
FBI Miami and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Marc Osborne is prosecuting the case. <<
