Pleasant Valley Woman Charged With Stealing Mother's Pension

STANFORD, NY — A Pleasant Valley woman was arrested Sept. 4 for stealing more than $40,000 worth of pension payments. State police said Bonnie S. Robertson, 63, of Pleasant Valley, was charged with third-degree grand larceny, a felony.

State police investigators were notified by the Division of Investigations of the state comptroller's office about the possible theft of state retirement funds.

Authorities found that Robertson's mother, who was a pensioner in the state retirement system, died in 2013.

Robertson had joint access to her mother's account and failed to notify the state that her mother had died. She continued to fraudulently collect pension payments totaling $41,923.70, police said.

"Ms. Robertson allegedly thought she could deceive the retirement system and continue to pocket her deceased mother’s pension to pay her bills. Instead, she is now charged with a felony,” said State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “I will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who attempt to defraud the pension system. I thank the New York State Police and Dutchess County District Attorney Grady for their continued partnership.”

Robertson was arraigned in the Town of Union Vale Court and released to the supervision of Dutchess County Probation.

She is next scheduled to appear in the Town of Stanford Court Sept. 26.

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