A Texas woman has been charged with stealing over $65,000 in New York State pension funds.
According to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Christy Gibson of Smith County, Texas was indicted by Texas prosecutors for the theft following an investigation by the comptroller’s office.
She is alleged to have covered up the death of Mary Walsh, an acquaintance of hers who died in December 2012 and was receiving pension benefits through her late husband William Walsh Jr, who worked for the New York State Department of Corrections until December 1986. Gibson made a joint bank account with Walsh one year before her death and never informed the bank once she died, receiving a total of 70 pension payments after Walsh’s death amounting to $65,102.28.
Pension payments were halted in May 2013 after the retirement system received information that Walsh had died. In June, the system sought to determine if Walsh was still alive and received notarized verification, purportedly from her. As a result, payments were reinstated.
Subsequent investigation found that the verification was fraudulent and Walsh was actually dead.
“Christy Gibson went to great lengths to cover up the death of an acquaintance to line her own pockets,” DiNapoli said. “Thanks to the work of my investigators and law enforcement in Texas, she will be held accountable. We will continue to partner with law enforcement from across the country to protect the New York State Retirement System.”
Gibson is expected to be arraigned next month in the Lone Star State.
