A Livingston County daughter has admitted to stealing more than $25,000 in New York State pension payments made to her deceased mother.
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced on Wednesday that 61-year-old Patricia Chatley, of Nunda, to grand larceny in the third degree. She was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in Livingston County Court before Judge Kevin B. Van Allen.
Chatley’s mother worked for the Livingston County Department of Social Services and retired in 1994. Upon her retirement, she received monthly benefits of approximately $1,000, which should have ceased upon her death on January 5, 2020.
DiNapoli’s Office became aware of Chatley’s mother’s death after receiving an anonymous tip and commenced an investigation. The investigation found that between January 2020 and June 30, 2022, Chatley collected unauthorized payments that were meant for her deceased mother, totaling $25,775.
DiNapoli’s forensic audit revealed that Chatley, who works for the Dalton-Nunda Central School District, never notified the bank or the New York State and Local Retirement System of her mother’s death and instead transferred the pension fund payments to her personal account, from which she then withdrew and spent the money.
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