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Four Arrested After Foiled Bank Fraud Attempt

Sheriff Kevin J. McConville reports the arrest of four individuals after an attempt to access a customer's account at a local bank illegally.

On September 11, 2024, at approximately 9:50 am, a deputy was dispatched to the Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union in Southeast for a report that a female had entered the bank and presented fraudulent documents to attempt to withdraw money. An astute teller quickly realized that the documents, including the photo, did not match the customer whose account she was trying to withdraw from, and the suspect then fled the bank.

With the assistance of Sheriff's BCI investigators, they got a description and license plate of the vehicle the suspect left in, and an alert was put out to all police departments in the area. At approximately 1 pm, officers from the Carmel Police Department spotted the vehicle on Route 6 near Baldwin Place Rd and made a traffic stop. Sheriff's personnel responded to the scene, took the occupants into custody, and brought them to the Sheriff's Office for questioning. It was learned that the suspects had made attempts at other banks earlier in the day and were successful in two transactions in the Town of Poughkeepsie for $12,000.

The following charges were lodged:

  • Onaj E. Leonard, 23, of the Bronx, was charged with Attempted Identity Theft in the 2nd Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 5th Degree, both misdemeanors.
  • Rashad A. Newton, 21, of Syracuse, was charged with Attempted Identity Theft in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, both misdemeanors.
  • Kirk K Neufville Jr., 22, of the Bronx, was charged with Attempted Identity Theft 2nd Degree and felony Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 3rd Degree.
  • Dawn M. Petruny, 49, of Woodbridge, CT, was charged with misdemeanor Attempted Identity Theft 2nd Degree and felony Possession of a Forged Instrument.

Leonard and Newton were issued appearance tickets for a future court date, and Neufville and Petruny were held pending arraignment.

Sheriff's Office investigators were assisted by detectives from the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the investigation is continuing.