Florida Man Faces Grand Larceny and Identity Theft Charges for Stealing Nearly $80,000 in Deceased Father’s Pension Benefits
Richard Gaines Jr. allegedly took out about $80,000 in pension money from the New York State and Local Retirement System by taking advantage of his father's passing (WNY News Now).A Florida man was charged with grand larceny and identity theft by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly for allegedly accepting, taking out, and spending close to $80,000 in pension payments from the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) to the defendant's father, who had died in 2019.Judge Geoffrey Prime arraigned Richard Gaines Jr., 51, of Daytona Beach, Florida, today on counts of identity theft in the first degree (a D felony) and grand larceny in the second degree (a C felony). After entering a not guilty plea, the defendant was freed on his own r...