NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A Long Island man was arrested on Thursday on allegations of fraudulently collecting his late mother’s pension, authorities said.
Moses K. Johnson, 63, did not inform the bank or the New York State and Local Retirement System that his mother had passed away in April, 2021, prosecutors revealed. He continued to access and misuse her pension payments.
Between April 30, 2021 to June 30, 2022, Johnson is believed to have received 15 payments amounting to over $55,000.
The funds were traced from the mother’s bank account directly into Johnson’s.
Johnson was an employee with the Town of Huntington for over three decades, with his last role at the recycling center until his 2017 retirement.
“This fund is built upon the hard work of countless public sector workers, ensuring retirement security for over a million members. Any theft from this essential reservoir will not be tolerated," Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said.
The arrest followed a joint probe by the Suffolk County District Attorney and the New York State Comptroller's Office.
He is set to reappear in court on Oct. 25.