One of the Most Wanted Men in Oneida County Has Been Captured

One of the most wanted men in all of Oneida County has finally been captured after nearly two years evading police.

The Oneida County Sheriff's Office announced on Friday the apprehension of 58-year-old Leonard M. Atkins. Atkins is one of ten on the Oneida County Sheriff's Office Top Ten Most Wanted List 2024. According to Sheriff's Office officials Atkins has been on the run since November of 2022. He was wanted on a bench warrant for Felony Aggravated DWI with a Child, or Leandra's Law.

According to Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol, deputies with the Oneida County Sheriff's Office Warrants Unit located and arrested Atkins at 6:12 p.m. at his residence in Whitestown. He was then transported to the Oneida County Law Enforcement Building for arraignment.

Of the Top Ten Most Wanted in Oneida County, four have been captured after the apprehension of Atkins. Six more fugitives are still on the loose. They include:

Robel E. Ventura-Veras - Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
Kenneth Ashley - Rape, Criminal Sexual Act, Sex Abuse, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, Endanger the Welfare of a Child and Harassment.
Michael J. Torres - Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Strangulation and Criminal Mischief
Marino Medina - Assault in the Second Degree
Travis K Yancey - Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
Eric Cardinale AKA Vincent Cardinale - Unlawful Surveillance

If you are aware of the whereabouts of any of these individuals, please contact the Oneida County Sheriff's Office as soon as possible. You can also submit an anonymous tip through Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers.

13 Of New York State's Most Wanted Criminals- March 2025

Below are individuals wanted by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's (DOCCS) Office of Special Investigations who have been designated as its Most Wanted Fugitives. They should be considered armed and dangerous. This list is current as of 3/01/2025:

NEVER attempt to apprehend a fugitive yourself. If you have information on the location of any of these fugitives, you can contact OSI 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to report it. All leads and tips are treated as confidential information.

If an immediate response is necessary, such as you see the wanted person at a location, please call “911” and report it to the police.

Gallery Credit: Dave Wheeler

15 Drunkest Counties In New York State Revealed For 2024

Earlier this year, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute released its 2024 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report, which is meant to raise awareness about factors that can impact health outcomes and disparities nationwide. To determine the rates of excessive drinking per state, researchers used self-reported data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system.

According to the research and data, here are the top 15 "drunkest" counties in all of New York State:

Gallery Credit: Dave Wheeler