Schenectady Fugitive Arrested for 2024 Identity Theft Attempt at Plattsburgh Credit Union

Sherry Dinkelman, 49, was arrested for a 2024 identity theft attempt at a Plattsburgh credit union. Read more on the fugitive's capture and charges.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 14, 2026, 5:11 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from WAMC Northeast Public Radio and the New York State Police.

Alert Credit Union Employee Thwarts Impersonation Attempt

A year-long investigation into a localized identity theft scheme has concluded with the arrest of a 49-year-old Schenectady woman. The New York State Police reported that the case began on December 12, 2024, at the Dannemora Federal Credit Union located on New York Road in Plattsburgh. According to authorities, Sherry L. Dinkelman entered the facility and presented a false identification to an employee in an attempt to access a customer's account. The bank employee immediately noticed that the photo on the identification did not match the person standing at the counter and contacted law enforcement. Dinkelman reportedly fled the scene before troopers arrived, sparking a lengthy search.

Multi-Agency Search Ends in Schenectady Apprehension

Following the initial incident, State Police investigators identified Dinkelman as the primary suspect and issued an arrest warrant. During the course of the investigation, local authorities discovered that Dinkelman was not only a person of interest in Plattsburgh but was also wanted by several other law enforcement agencies for similar identity theft and forgery incidents, including some located outside of New York State. On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, officers with the Schenectady Police Department located Dinkelman and took her into custody. She was subsequently turned over to the New York State Police and transported to Troop B headquarters for processing.

Serious Felony Charges and Fugitive Status

Dinkelman faces multiple significant legal challenges as a result of her arrest. She has been charged with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and first-degree identity theft. Following her capture in Schenectady, she was arraigned in the Town of Plattsburgh Court. Due to the outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions, the judge designated her as a fugitive from justice and ordered her to be remanded to the Clinton County Jail without bail. The classification of fugitive from justice indicates that Dinkelman may soon face extradition to other jurisdictions once the local charges in Plattsburgh are addressed.