DA Accuses Ossining Bank Manager of Stealing $1.4 Million from 2 Clients

A 27-count indictment was unsealed today against Maria Rodriguez of 88 Beverly Road in Mount Kisco.

• one count of Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony,

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,

• two counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree, class “D” Felonies,

• four counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, class “D” Felonies,

• four counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, class “D” Felonies,

• four counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, class “D” Felonies,

• five counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing, class “E” Felonies,

• one count of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fourth Degree, a class “E” Felony,

• four counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, class “E” Felonies,

• one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony.

“Most of us rely on our neighborhood bank to safeguard our money. In this case both victims put their trust as well as their money in the hands of someone who, as alleged in this indictment, took advantage of their trust and stole from them,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

Beginning in June 2008, Rodriguez, who was employed as the Branch Manger of the M&T Bank retail branch in the Village of Ossining, began systematically stealing from two of the bank’s customers.

Rodriguez had known the first victim since the mid-1990s. The victim trusted Rodriguez to assist her with her personal banking and banking for her business.

Over the course of five years, the DA said Rodriguez stole money from the victim by writing unauthorized checks to cash, making unauthorized cash withdrawals, and requesting an ATM card and making unauthorized ATM withdrawals. The total larceny for this victim is $1,171,357.40.

The second victim is 92 years old and a former Ossining Village police officer.

At the bank, he would deal only with Rodriguez, the DA said.

He thought he was withdrawing only the interest out of his bank account, when in fact she was making unauthorized withdrawals worth thousands of dollars over a several-year period. The total larceny for this victim is $267,450.

The thefts came to light when several of Rodriguez’s subordinates at the Ossining Branch called M&T Bank’s whistleblower hotline to report suspicious activity. M&T Bank then initiated an internal investigation, which led the bank to refer the matter to the Ossining Village Police Department, which in turn contacted the District Attorney’s office.

In addition the New York State Tax Department assisted in investigating the tax charges.

Bail was set at $200,000.

The next court date for the 46-year-old will be on Nov. 26.

If convicted of all charges, Rodriguez faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Mayes of the Economic Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case.