Woman Pleads Guilty for Collecting Dead Mother’s Pension

Adam Devine
A gavel and a block is pictured at the George

MIDDLETOWN, NY – A Middletown woman has pleaded guilty in court to collecting her dead mother’s pension.

According to Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Valerie White, 58, of Middletown, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.  

“Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time of the guilty plea, White was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $51,532.64, which is the total funds that White illegally stole from the state pension system,” D.A. Hoovler said. “White’s mother was a pensioner, vested in the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS).  At the time that White’s mother retired in 2000, she elected to receive her pension benefits in full until her death.  When White’s mother died in 2017, the death was not reported to NYSLRS and pension benefits continued to be made to an account that White jointly held with her mother.”

Court documents show, as a result, from 2017 until NYSLRS learned of the pensioner’s death in 2019, over $54,000 were unjustly deposited into the account.  While NYSLRS was able to claw back approximately $2,500 of the amount stolen, the remaining was spent by White on personal expenses. At the time of her plea, White admitted to stealing the money and that she knew she did not have permission or authority to take the funds.


“Hard-working public servants throughout the State, and their families rely on the stability and integrity of the State pension system,” said District Attorney Hoovler.  “That this defendant would seek to manipulate the system for her own benefit is reprehensible.  I am thankful for the dedicated investigation conducted by the Comptroller’s Office together with the New York State Police that ensured this defendant would be held accountable for her actions.”

“Ms. White thought she could get away with defrauding the New York State and Local Retirement System of over $50,000, but she was wrong,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.  “Today’s guilty plea should be a warning sign to anyone attempting to steal state pension benefits that my office will find you and work with law enforcement to hold you accountable.  I thank Orange County District Attorney Hoovler and the New York State Police for their continued partnership and steadfast commitment to holding those who try to defraud the public accountable.”

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