Pleasantville woman gets probation in theft of $140,000 in state benefits

A Pleasantville woman was sentenced to two years' probation for stealing more than $140,000 in state pension benefits paid to her mother after the woman died.
Diana Heil, 49, learned about the money in 2013, after the bank notified her that the money was going into an account she and her mother shared, according to the charges.
The money was for her mother, who was receiving her husband's survivor's benefits from the New Jersey Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund.
At that time, Heil then told the state of her mother's death in 2005.
That sparked an audit, which resulted in the Division of Pensions and Benefits telling Heil she had to return the money.
Heil acknowledged the money was not hers, but instead of returning it, she made a series of large withdrawals and wire transfers totaling about $140,873, according to her previous admission.

Pleasantville woman admits stealing $140,000 in pension benefits

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Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Robert Becker Jr. also sentenced Heil to 364 days in the county jail, which would be served at the end of her probation. But that sentence will be waived as long as she doesn't violate the conditions of her probation.