DiNapoli: Syracuse Man Sentenced for Stealing Nearly $22,000 in Pension Checks

A Syracuse man who stole nearly $22,000 in pension payments sent to his deceased mother was sentenced today to serve five years' probation and ordered to pay full restitution, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced. The defendant, Michael Glinski, 45, was arrested in January 2025 following an investigation by DiNapoli's office.

"Michael Glinski concealed his mother's death to defraud our pension system. We will continue our work to track down and bring to justice those who try to defraud the pension system which our retired public employees and their beneficiaries rely upon," DiNapoli said. "My thanks to DA Fitzpatrick and Superintendent James for their partnership in holding the defendant accountable."

Fitzpatrick said, "The state pension system provides vital benefits to our hardworking state and municipal employees and their families. Mr. Glinski has violated the integrity of this system, and he must now suffer the consequences with a conviction and the requirement that he reimburse the pension system for his theft in full."

James said, "Theft from the state pension system is not a victimless crime - it erodes trust in programs designed to support those who served our communities with integrity. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Comptroller's Office, the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, and the State Police, Mr. Glinski has been held accountable for his actions. Our partnership remains strong and committed to uncovering fraud and protecting the benefits earned by hardworking New Yorkers and their families."

Glinski's mother received a monthly pension check after retiring from her job as a clerk with the Village of Solvay Police Department in August 2014. She had also received her deceased husband's pension payment as a beneficiary since 2019. When she passed away in October 2021, both payments should have stopped, but Glinski hid her death from the New York State and Local Retirement System which discovered that she was deceased in July 2022. Her payments then stopped, and an investigation was launched.

DiNapoli's investigation determined that Glinski had deposited 17 pension checks written to his mother, totaling $21,946.36, into his personal bank account by endorsing the checks using a power of attorney, which he knew had expired by law at the time of his mother's death.

Glinski pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the third degree in May. He was sentenced in Onondaga County Court before Judge Mary Anne Doherty.

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