Monmouth County Resident Charged With Stealing More Than $78,000 In NY Pension Funds

A Monmouth County man has been indicted in New York on a charge that he stole more than $78,000 in pension funds that were payable to his deceased godfather, authorities said.

Terence Fitzpatrick, 43, who lives in Monmouth County, was indicted Monday on a charge of second-degree grand larceny, according to a news release from New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Fitzpatrick turned himself in to New York State Police, and entered a not guilty plea at his his arraignment in Albany County Court, authorities said.

The Asbury Park Press reported that Fitzpatrick lives in Marlboro.

According to the news release from New York authorities:

Fitzpatrick stole more than $78,000 in New York State and Local Employees Retirement System pension benefits that were payable to his deceased godfather, Thomas Sullivan.

Sullivan, a retired Port Authority of New York and New Jersey employee, died in 2003. His wife collected his benefits until she died in 2006.

Fitzpatrick had been acting as power of attorney before Sullivan’s death, and he never notified authorities about the deaths of Sullivan or Sullivan’s wife.

Instead, he used his status as power of attorney to access the account and withdraw pension benefits paid on Sullivan’s behalf between November 1, 2006 and August 31, 2012.