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Ithaca Woman Accused of Stealing $70K in State Pensions

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A 73-year-old Ithaca woman has been charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing nearly $70,000 in state pension payments meant for her dead husband.

Sharon Collins’ husband retired from Cornell as a facilities manager in 2014.  He received monthly pension payments and chose a single life allowance option, which meant payments would stop at the time of his death. He died in 2020, but his wife failed to notify the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS).

From August 2020 to June 2022, 23 pension payments totaling $69,481.63 were made into the couple’s joint bank account. When NYSLRS became aware of the death, it stopped all pension payments and sought to reclaim the funds immediately. When Collins became aware of the effort to reclaim the funds, she withdrew the balance of $26,408.61 from the account.

Collins was arraigned on charges of grand larceny in the fourth degree in Lansing Town Court.

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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