Court Sentences Lansing, Michigan, Resident to Jail, Orders $48,285 In Restitution for Theft of Mother’s General Motors’ Employee Pension

LANSING, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), and the 30th Circuit Court for Ingham County, Michigan, the Michigan Circuit Court for Ingham County has sentenced Allen G. Ollenburger – a resident of Lansing, Michigan – to serve 45 days in Jail, 60 months’ probation, and ordered him to make $48,285 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to cashing General Motors’ pension checks issued to his deceased mother.

Investigators found that – from September 3, 2013 to September 29, 2016 – Ollenburger forged his mother’s signature on annuity checks, endorsed them in his own name, and deposited the checks into his credit union account. This was after his mother’s August 10, 2013, death, when all payments should have stopped.

“Fraudulent transactions like these have a severe impact on pension plans and impact the hard-earned retirement savings of legal beneficiaries,” said Employee Benefits Security Administration Regional Director Joe Rivers, in Cincinnati.

Ollenburger previously pleaded guilty to one felony count and one misdemeanor count of larceny by conversion.

Employers and workers can reach EBSA toll-free at 866-444-3272 for help with problems related to private sector retirement and health plans. Additional information can be found at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa.