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February 16, 2021

Westchester sisters sentenced for stealing deceased mother's pension after pleading guilty to felony grand larceny

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced the sentencing of Annette Bigelow, 61, and Mary Nash, 59, who hid their mother’s death to pocket nearly $22,000 from the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System, which DiNapoli administers, from 2013 to 2015.

The two daughters pleaded guilty to felony grand larceny in September, 2020. They were sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay full restitution of $22,000.

“Annette Bigelow and Mary Nash hid their mother’s death and tried to cheat the state retirement system,” DiNapoli said. “Now they have been brought to justice and will have to repay the $22,000 they stole. I thank Westchester County District Attorney Rocah’s office for aggressively pursuing this case.”

“Our office is committed to pursuing wrongdoing in Westchester, whether the victim is a person or an entity like the state retirement system,” Rocah said. “Theft like this from the pension system is ultimately stealing from New York taxpayers, and we are glad to work with the Office of the State Comptroller to help ensure that public funds are safeguarded.”

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State Comptroller DiNapoli is committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. Allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money may be submitted to the Comptroller by calling a toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by mailing a complaint to the Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236, or by emailing a complaint to investigations@osc.ny.gov.

 

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