A Syracuse man has been arrested for allegedly stealing $21,946 in state pension payments meant for his deceased mother, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and the New York State Police announced. 45-year-old Michael Glinski is charged with grand larceny.
“Mr. Glinski allegedly tried to capitalize on his mother’s death by pocketing pension checks meant for her,” DiNapoli said. “I will continue to safeguard the pension system and work with law enforcement across the state to hold those who attempt to defraud it accountable. My thanks to DA Fitzpatrick and the New York State Police for their continued partnership in combatting fraud.”
Glinski’s mother, a clerk with the Village of Solvay Police Department, retired in August of 2014 and received a monthly pension check. She also received her deceased husband’s pension payment as a beneficiary since 2019. When she passed away in October 2021, both payments should have stopped, but the New York State and Local Retirement System was not notified of her death until July 2022. Her payments then stopped, and an investigation was launched.
DiNapoli’s investigators determined that Glinski had deposited 17 pension checks into his personal bank account, totaling $21,946.36. He was able to do this by allegedly signing the checks using his power of attorney which he allegedly knew ended under the law at the time of his mother’s death.
Glinski was arraigned in Onondaga County Justice Center Centralized Arraignment Court on a charge of grand larceny in the third degree. He is due back in court on Jan. 23rd.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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