An Allegany County woman has been charged with stealing nearly $30,000 in pension payments issued to her deceased stepfather, authorities announced Friday.
Linda Burrows, of Fillmore, was arrested on charges of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Forgery in the Second Degree, and Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree. According to investigators, Burrows concealed her stepfather’s death and forged his signature to deposit pension checks into a joint account over a 23-month period.
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said Burrows stole $29,893 in state pension funds and spent at least $8,752 of the money at casinos. The alleged theft began after the death of her stepfather in 2020, whose pension payments should have ceased. Burrows allegedly continued to cash the checks until the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) discovered his death and stopped the payments.
“Linda Burrows allegedly concealed her stepfather’s death and forged his name in order to steal benefits from the pension fund,” DiNapoli said. “My office will continue to partner with law enforcement to protect the integrity of our pension system.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James praised the collaboration that led to Burrows’ arrest. “This arrest is another example of how dedicated police work and strong law enforcement partnerships are succeeding in tackling pension fraud,” James said.
Burrows’ mother, who retired as a custodian for the Yorkshire Pioneer Central School District, initially received the pension payments before her death in 2019. Her husband, Burrows’ stepfather, was the designated beneficiary. Following his death, Burrows allegedly forged his name on monthly checks for nearly two years.
Burrows is scheduled to be arraigned in Hume Town Court on December 12.
The charges are accusations, and Burrows is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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