Convicted Ex-School Official Still Gets State Pension

Even though he's serving a jail sentence, cleaning prison bathrooms, for stealing millions from the Roslyn schools district, it's certainly nice to be Frank Tassone, knowing that he still gets his $173,495 annual NY State pension. Newsday reports that he and other former Roslyn officials still get their considerable pensions, even while serving jail time.

Tassone, who notoriously stole $2.2 million for a lavish lifestyle (he did pay back the money, but it's unclear if his pension helped with that), is guaranteed his pension for life, thanks to a state law that says, per Newsday, "a public employee is entitled to a state pension for his or her years of service, those retirement benefits cannot be diminished or taken away, even after a felony conviction."

Some Republican lawmakers' attempts to change that have been shot down by employee unions, in spite of this point from State Assemblyman Daniel Burling: "I don't think, when you violate the public's trust while you're in public office, that you should be rewarded with a very generous pension system, primarily provided by the taxpayers of New York State, the very people you violated."

And here's another former official who gets his NY State pension: Former Comptroller Alan Hevesi. He may have pleaded guilty to a felony, for using state staff and vehicles to chauffeur his sickly wife, but he does get to pass Go and collect $104,123 annually.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 6, 2008 8:56 AM

Comments [rss]

sonyactivision

At 4:00 am, they are the same thing. (hic*)

sonyactivision

Don't take away his pension, just get more value for the money: make that shitbag clean every toilet in the Bronx, Jamaica, Queens, Bushwick, and Astoria!

FrankMartin

So he only has to pay back what he stole. no interest. What did he gain from the 2.2 million, investments etc.? He shouldn't be allowed to profit from the theft.

captainblackout

Never thought I'd be backing a NYS Republican over the unions, but this law has got to go.

The problem with unions is the same problem with everything else, people in positions of power, abusing that power to protect their own interests.

Papercutninja

to akachris:

Apparently he was able to pay back the 2.2 million dollars. How a school official HAS $2.2 million, i don't know.

Also, no NY Stat is not allowed to garnish his wages as per the State law that is quoted in the post.

FrankMartin: I've been thinking that for YEARS. Unions are nothing more than organized crime and are especially irrelevant in this day and age.

Outter Burrougher

chris, the article says that restitution has already been made and that the law says that his pension may not be diminished or taken away. What legal grounds would the state or town have for a lawsuit ("it ain't right" doesn't count)? Of course the fact that he's still getting this pension is deplorable, I'm not arguing that.

akachris

Can't NY State or the Town of Rosalyn sue Tassone in civil court for the money?

And wasn't restitution part of the penalty he received when he was convicted?

Is NY State allowed to garnish his pension?