New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Criminal Justice today announced that an Ocean County woman has been charged with stealing more than $200,000 from a union local pension fund by posing as her deceased mother.

Kristen G. Arntz, 54, of Beachwood, is charged by indictment with two counts of second-degree theft by deception and three counts of third-degree forgery.

According to the indictment announced by the Attorney General’s office, from January 2021 to July 2025, Arntz collected $97,139 from the pension fund of Ironworkers Local 11 and $120,700 from the union’s annuity fund following her mother’s death. Arntz failed to notify the union of her mother’s death and took control of her mother’s bank account to continue receiving benefits to which she was not entitled. She also forged several letters to the union in her mother’s name, requesting advanced payments from the annuity fund.

“Private pension funds like the one victimized in this case exist to help provide some measure of financial security to the workers who paid into them, often over a lifetime,” Attorney General Davenport said. “The charges in this indictment allege a scheme to steal a large amount of money to which the defendant was not entitled.”

“Stealing more than $200,000 from the pension programs by concealing a family member’s death, as this defendant is alleged to have done, is a calculated betrayal of a fund that hardworking employees depend on, and it will not be tolerated,” said DCJ Interim Director Martha Nye.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Deputy Attorney General Lindsey Watson is handling the matter for DCJ’s Fraud Unit. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with pertinent information is asked to contact the DCJ tip line at (800) 277-2427.