POUGHKEEPSIE – Consuelo Leonard, 45, was sentenced to a prison term of 22 years to life in prison for her role in the death of 64-year-old Paul Thompson in Poughkeepsie in February 2020. Leonard was considered the ringleader that recruited three men to rob Thompson with her. Thompson was a friend of Leonard’s and had let her stay in his Poughkeepsie apartment.
Consuelo entered a guilty plea before Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin in May of this year with the understanding that the maximum sentence would be 22 years to life behind bars.
Judge McLoughlin listened as the victim’s cousin, David Thompson spoke on behalf of the extended family. “Our family members will never be the same,” he said, telling the court of the extended Thompson family. He also noted that the victim’s sister, Mathilda Brandon of Newburgh had urged her brother to remove Leonard from his apartment. Thompson heeded the advice when he returned to Poughkeepsie that day, which enraged Leonard and her to recruit Rodarius Smith, Darrell Carter, and Anthony Ermo* at the Casablanca Market in Poughkeepsie, to join her in robbing the victim.
The four went to Thompson’s apartment and started beating the man, demanding cash that he didn’t have. Leonard had allegedly told the men that he had a large sum of money. Leonard and her accomplices bound the victim’s hands and legs with duct tape. When he begged for mercy, duct tape was applied to his face, causing him to suffocate. His lifeless body was dragged down a hall and put in a closet. Leonard continued to use the apartment for a few days. leaving just before police arrived on March 2, 2020, to perform a welfare check, discovering the body.
“I know that we are supposed to forgive those that trespass against us,” Mr. Thompson said, “but I’m not there yet and I don’t know if I ever will be,” while pleading with the court to impose the maximum sentence.
The defendant remained void of emotion…
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