NEW YORK (JTA) — A New York man was charged with hiding his Holocaust survivor mother’s death in order to collect her reparations benefits.
Gary Jacoby, 61, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Thursday on grand larceny and forgery charges, the Daily News reported. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Jacoby’s mother, Laura, died in 2008 at age 93. Over the next four years, he allegedly collected $56,000 in her benefits from the German government.
Jacoby allegedly colluded with a notary public to forge annual paperwork indicating that his mother was still alive.
He also appeared at the German Embassy in 2012 to testify that his mother was still alive, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Jacoby was released without bail and is due back in court on Oct. 14. He told the Daily News that he expects the charges against him to be dropped.
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