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NEWS from the Office of the New York State Comptroller
Contact: Press Office 518-474-4015

DiNapoli: Westchester Sisters Sentenced for Stealing Deceased Mother's Pension

February 10, 2021

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced the sentencings 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 last September. 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.”


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 [email protected], or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.