Sisters Pocketed $22,000 Of Mother's Pension After She Died

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Two sisters who hid their mother's death for two years and collected nearly $22,000 in state pension payments have pleaded guilty to felony charges.

Annette Bigelow, 60, and Mary Nash, 59, covered up their mother’s death from 2013 to 2015 to steal from the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System, said State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

"This was a deliberate act to abuse the system," DiNapoli said. "They now have judgments against them to repay the stolen funds. Those who try to scam the retirement system will be held accountable. I thank Westchester County D.A. Scarpino, Jr. for prosecuting these thefts."

Bigelow and Nash appeared before Westchester County Court Judge David Zuckerman. The two Mount Vernon residents are due back in court Jan. 6 for sentencing.

"This is another instance where people trying to scam the system have gotten caught taking money from the people of New York," said Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. "We continue to work with State Comptroller DiNapoli to stop this kind of fraud. We hope this sends a message to others who might think they could get away with it."