NY man accused of cashing dead brother's benefits

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – An 81-year-old man from suburban New York is accused of collecting nearly $145,000 from his dead brother's retirement benefits.

Police say Emanuel Pshierer forged his brother's signature to monthly annuity payments and then deposited them in a joint bank account for 10 years.

The New Rochelle resident has been charged with grand larceny.

Pshierer told the Journal News (http://bit.ly/rh0gNQ ) that "there's a story behind" the allegations but his lawyer stopped him from speaking.

Police say Pshierer told them he was entitled to the money.

Federal authorities began investigating the case last year after receiving his brother's decade-old death certificate. They turned the case over to state authorities.

Pshierer's brother, Robert, in 2000 at age 74.

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Information from: The Journal News, http://www.lohud.com