A Long Island woman was arrested after allegedly stealing her late father’s pension after his death and using the money to purchase a luxury home and a Mercedes Benz, NY Post reported.
Alayne Bertolino, whose dad was Nassau County Police Detective Joseph Bertolino, allegedly continued to receive her father’s pension 4 1/2 years after his death at age 69 in 2014. The 48-year-old is accused of failing to notify the state retirement system of her dad’s death.
Bertolino reportedly retired from the department in 1991 and had been collecting his pension via direct deposit in a joint account shared with his daughter. However, payments are supposed to end after a person is deceased.
DiNapoli’s office said they didn’t find out about the theft until after receiving a change of address form for the father in 2017, reports reveal. The payments were immediately canceled once the retirement system became aware of his death.
Alayne is accused of making multiple transfers into her family bank accounts and using the funds to purchase a new, $70,000 black Mercedes-Benz GL350 and a $556,000 seven-bedroom, five-bathroom home in Cumming, Ga., 40 miles northeast of Atlanta, officials allege.
“The defendant took advantage of her father’s death to profit handsomely at the expense of New York’s retirement system and fuel an extravagant lifestyle,”
DiNapoli said, adding his office
“will seek full restitution.”
Alayne Bertolino pleaded not guilty at arraignment in Albany City Court, telling The Post that the matter “was a misunderstanding.”
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
