CARMEL, NEW YORK – December 4, 2023 – Putnam County District Attorney Robert V. Tendy announced today that on December 1, 2023, Elisa Sanchez, a Dutchess County resident, was convicted after a jury trial of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree.

Sanchez, a veterinary technician formerly employed by Guardian Veterinary Specialists, located in the Town of Southeast, was convicted of stealing life-saving oncology medications used to treat animals with cancer from the facility. Members of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office responded to Guardian on July 28, 2022, after fellow employees saw Sanchez placing these medications in her personal bag.

Guardian employees observed Sanchez do this on prior occasions before reporting her to management, which ultimately led to her arrest and termination from Guardian.

District Attorney Tendy said “it’s very sad that essential cancer medications for dogs, cats--people’s beloved pets--would be stolen by a vet tech. It’s just a really low thing to do. Fortunately, the Guardian employees and management were vigilant and reached out to law enforcement.

The case was investigated by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Mackenzie Ferguson and Melissa Lynch.

Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced by County Court Judge Anthony Molé on January 31, 2024. She faces a maximum sentence of 2 1/3 to 7 years’ incarceration in state prison.