(Rocky Hill, CT) – Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin today announced the arrest of Christina Richards, a Florida resident, in connection with the theft of nearly $98,000 in pension benefits issued by the State of Connecticut following the death of a retiree.
On April 15, 2025, the Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller referred a complaint to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney for potential criminal investigation. The complaint alleged that monthly pension payments continued to be sent to the Fort Pierce, Florida, home of a Connecticut retiree despite her death in October 2021. The payments, totaling $97,671.42, were deposited into the deceased retiree’s bank account until the Office of the State Comptroller suspended the benefits on November 4, 2024, after confirming her death.
An investigation by Inspectors with the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney revealed that Richards had been residing with the retiree at the time of her death and continued to access the deceased’s bank account. Search warrants executed on the bank account showed consistent cash withdrawals following the retiree’s death. Further investigation, including interviews and additional search and seizure warrants, confirmed that Richards was the sole individual accessing the funds.
On October 31, 2025, Inspector Alfonso Vazquez of the Statewide Prosecution Bureau secured an arrest warrant charging Richards with Larceny in the First Degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-122(a)(3). On November 13, 2025, Inspector Vazquez contacted the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. That same day, Sergeant Sean Masters and Detective Mich Mazanoski of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office located and arrested Richards on a Fugitive from Justice charge. She was arraigned the following day and waived extradition to Connecticut.
On November 24, 2025, Inspector Vazquez and Inspector Claudette Kosinski traveled to Florida to take Richards into custody at the St. Lucie Sheriff’s Detention Facility and transport her back to Connecticut. Once in Connecticut, Richards was processed at the State Police Troop H barracks in Hartford. A judge set bond at $90,000 during a November 26, 2025 arraignment hearing in Hartford Superior Court, Geographical Area No. 14. Richards is due back in court on December 24, 2025.
“I want to thank the Office of the State Comptroller for its diligence and collaboration in bringing this matter to our attention, as well as the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office for their valuable assistance in apprehending the suspect," Chief State's Attorney Griffin said. "The Office of the Chief State’s Attorney is committed to the investigation and prosecution of cases involving the theft of public funds, especially pension funds disbursed in the name of deceased beneficiaries. We remain committed to ensuring that those who engage in this kind of fraud are identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice.”
"The disability pension system is a vital lifeline for those who truly need it, and any abuse of the system is unacceptable," said Comptroller Sean Scanlon. "I am proud that the reforms we put in place in 2024 to root out fraud and abuse within the disability pension system led to this arrest, and I am grateful to the Office of the Chief State's Attorney and law enforcement in both Connecticut and Florida for their partnership."
The charges are merely accusations and Richards is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.