An Ithaca woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $69,000 in state pension payments that were intended for her late husband. Sharon Collins, 73, was arraigned in Lansing Town Court on Jan. 30 on a charge of fourth-degree grand larceny.
According to the New York State Comptroller’s Office, Collins’ husband, who retired in 2014 as a facilities manager for New York State Colleges at Cornell, had opted for a single life allowance for his pension. This meant that his pension payments should have stopped upon his death in 2020. However, authorities claim that Collins did not inform the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) of her husband’s passing.
As a result, 23 pension payments totaling $69,481.63 were deposited into the joint bank account belonging to Collins and her late husband between August 2020 and June 2022.
ithaca woman accused of pension fraud
Once NYSLRS was made aware of the situation, they halted all payments and sought to recover the improperly disbursed funds.
The Comptroller’s Office stated that Collins allegedly withdrew $26,408 from the account when she learned about NYSLRS’s effort to reclaim the money. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten commended the efforts of the New York State Police and the Comptroller’s Office in pursuing the investigation. “This kind of fraudulent conduct has no place in our community,” he said in a prepared statement.
The case is part of the Comptroller’s ongoing effort to maintain the integrity of the state pension system and prevent fraud. “Sharon Collins allegedly took advantage of her husband’s death to try to cheat the pension system,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. “She will be held accountable, and my office will continue to partner with law enforcement to protect the pension fund.”
