Canarsie Man Accused of Stealing $624,000 from Retirees’ Pensions
A Canarsie man accused of stealing $624,000 from the pensions of two retired New York City employees was arraigned Tuesday on a nine-count indictment, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office announced.
Charges and Allegations
Gregory Mathieu, 40, appeared before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on Nov. 19, facing charges that include first-degree corrupting the government, two counts of second-degree grand larceny, two counts of first-degree identity theft, and four counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.
Prosecutors allege Mathieu exploited his position as an Associate Retirement Benefits Examiner with the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) to carry out the thefts between February 2021 and January 2024.
Investigation and Findings
The indictment alleges that Mathieu reactivated the suspended pension account of a deceased Department of Sanitation supervisor, fraudulently collecting $242,000 in retroactive payments and $5,700 in monthly payments between May 2021 and January 2024.
In a separate incident, prosecutors claim Mathieu stole approximately $199,000 from a 75-year-old retired Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker whose account had been suspended due to uncashed pension checks. The alleged theft was discovered in January 2024, when the retiree attempted to reactivate his account.
Reactions and Recommendations
“This defendant is accused of exploiting his trusted position to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the New York City Employee Retirement System, betraying retirees’ dignity and the public trust,” District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in Tuesday’s announcement.
“The financial security of more than 350,000 current and former city employees who rely on NYCERS is vital to their well-being and peace of mind. These are our neighbors—people who have dedicated their lives to serving New Yorkers—and we will not tolerate anyone preying on them,” Gonzalez added.
Jocelyn Strauber, commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation, accused Mathieu of leveraging his 15 years of experience with NYCERS to bypass internal controls and divert pension funds.
As a result of the joint investigation with the DA’s office, the DOI chief said the agency will be making recommendations to strengthen NYCERS’ systems, including increased oversight of changes to pensioners’ account information.
Next Steps
Mathieu, currently suspended with pay, is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 5. His lawyers did not respond to Brooklyn Paper’s request for comment by press time.
Conclusion
The alleged theft of $624,000 from the pensions of two retired New York City employees is a serious violation of trust and a betrayal of the public’s faith in government institutions. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Department of Investigation are working together to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
FAQs
Q: Who is accused of stealing the pensions?
A: Gregory Mathieu, a 40-year-old man from Canarsie, is accused of stealing the pensions.
Q: How much was stolen?
A: Approximately $624,000 was stolen from the pensions of two retired New York City employees.
Q: What charges is Mathieu facing?
A: Mathieu is facing nine counts of charges, including first-degree corrupting the government, grand larceny, identity theft, and offering a false instrument for filing.
Q: What is the next step in the case?
A: Mathieu is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 5. His lawyers did not respond to Brooklyn Paper’s request for comment by press time.
