Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that Eric Leopold (DOB 04/23/66) of 97 Tennyson Drive, Nanuet, New York has been arrested and arraigned on one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony.

Leopold, a general contractor who conducted his home painting business under the company name “Splash of Color,” is alleged to have stolen more than $15,000 from a Nanuet couple with whom he had contracted to perform renovations.

In June, 2008, the victims hired Leopold, a neighbor on Tennyson Drive, to perform certain home improvements for them. The defendant told the victims he was re-opening a contracting business that he had formerly operated. The couple gave Leopold a $20,000 down-payment to begin the work, which included siding repairs to their home.

By January, 2009, the work was not completed. Leopold claimed he could not purchase any more supplies due to poor credit. As they were neighbors, the victims allowed the defendant to use one of their credit cards to purchase supplies to complete the renovations.

Leopold, without the knowledge or authorization of the couple, used the credit card to make purchases having nothing to do with the renovation project. The fraudulent purchases totaled over $15,000.

The defendant was arraigned in the Clarkstown Justice Court and was released in his own recognizance.

He is due to return to court on January 11th, 2010.

Leopold faces up to seven years in state prison.

The arrest resulted from an investigation conducted by the Rockland County Special Investigation’s Unit.