Son Cashed Mom’s Workers’ Comp Checks After She Died

A Port Jervis, New York man recently entered a guilty plea to charges he collected more than $42,000 in workers’ compensation benefits issued to his deceased mother.

New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced the July 31, 2025, guilty plea of Randi L. Magpie, who Lang said was was arrested in February following a multi-agency investigation.

Magpie will serve one year of probation and make restitution in the amount of $42,000.

Magpie’s mother, Linda Chaney, died on April 1, 2022. At the time of her death, Chaney had been receiving weekly workers’ compensation wage replacement benefits of $487.35 as a result of a workplace injury sustained in 2012.

Prosecutors said that between April 18, 2022, and December 19, 2023, NJM Insurance Co. — unaware that Chaney had died — continued to issue benefit checks. A total of 43 checks, amounting to $42,399.45, were deposited into a personal bank account belonging to Magpie.

According to investigators, NJM attempted to reach Chaney numerous times to confirm her continuing eligibility but was unable to do so. On August 21, 2023, a representative of NJM spoke with Magpie who, rather than acknowledge his mother’s death, falsely claimed that his mother was merely “out of town,” and provided a new mailing address in Port Jervis – his own – for checks to be sent, thereby prolonging the scheme.

On December 15, 2023, NJM became aware of Chaney’s death, obtained a death certificate to confirm the date, and notified Inspector General Lang’s office.

Prosecutors said that 43 checks sent by NJM after the date of Chaney’s death were deposited into Magpie’s personal bank account. Each of the checks contained a forged signature of Linda Chaney, with 41 also bearing Magpie’s own signature beneath.

Topics Workers' Compensation