State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Livingston County District Attorney Ashley Williams and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James today announced that Patricia Chatley, 61, of Nunda, New York, pleaded guilty to stealing more than $25,000 in New York state pension payments made to her deceased mother.
“Ms. Chatley hid her mother’s death to try to steal from the state retirement system and line her own pockets,” DiNapoli said. “Thanks to District Attorney Williams and the New York State Police, she is being held accountable for her crime. My office will continue to partner with law enforcement agencies across the state and country to protect the New York state pension system from fraud.”
Williams said, “Concealing the death of a family member for personal financial gain is beyond reprehensible and unacceptable. Thank you to our partners at the State Comptroller’s Office and State Police, for working diligently with my office to bring justice and hold Ms. Chatley accountable.”
James said, “I commend the work put forth by our State Police members, the State Comptroller’s Office, and the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office for their resolute work on this case. Ms. Chatley deceitfully manipulated the New York pension system by using her deceased mother’s pension to fill her pockets. May this guilty plea serve as a reminder that those who carry out such deliberate acts will be held accountable.”
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.
Chatley pleaded guilty 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.
Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at https://www.osc.ny.gov/investigations, or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.