Key Takeaways
- • Kristen G. Arntz, 54, of Beachwood, Ocean County, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of second-degree theft by deception and three counts of third-degree forgery over alleged pension and annuity theft from Ironworkers Local 11.
- • Investigators allege Arntz collected $97,139 from the Local 11 pension fund and $120,700 from the union's annuity fund between January 2021 and July 2025, totaling more than $200,000 (reported as $217K in some coverage).
- • Arntz allegedly concealed her mother's December 2020 death from the union and kept receiving benefits by controlling her mother's bank account, and forged letters in her mother's name requesting advance annuity payments.
- • State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and Division of Criminal Justice Interim Director Martha Nye characterized the case as a calculated betrayal of a pension fund; second-degree charges carry up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $150,000.
Summary
A 54-year-old Ocean County, New Jersey woman, Kristen G. Arntz of Beachwood, has been indicted on charges of two counts of second-degree theft by deception and three counts of third-degree forgery in connection with the alleged theft of more than $200,000 from a union pension fund, according to a state release cited by local outlets including New Jersey 101.5.
Investigators say Arntz's father, an iron worker with Local 11 out of Newark, died in October 2019, after which his widow continued to receive his pension. The mother died in December 2020. Rather than notifying the union, Arntz allegedly took control of her mother's bank account so the benefit payments would continue. Between January 2021 and July 2025, she allegedly collected $97,139 from the Ironworkers Local 11 pension fund and $120,700 from the union's annuity fund. Investigators also allege she forged several letters in her mother's name requesting advance payments from the annuity fund.
State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a written statement that private pension funds exist to provide financial security to workers who paid into them over a lifetime, and that the indictment alleges a scheme to take money the defendant was not entitled to. Martha Nye, interim director of the Division of Criminal Justice, described the alleged concealment of a family member's death as a calculated betrayal of a fund that workers depend on.
Second-degree crimes under New Jersey law carry up to 10 years in state prison and fines of up to $150,000; third-degree crimes carry up to five years and fines of up to $15,000. The allegations remain unproven charges at this stage.
Investigators say Arntz's father, an iron worker with Local 11 out of Newark, died in October 2019, after which his widow continued to receive his pension. The mother died in December 2020. Rather than notifying the union, Arntz allegedly took control of her mother's bank account so the benefit payments would continue. Between January 2021 and July 2025, she allegedly collected $97,139 from the Ironworkers Local 11 pension fund and $120,700 from the union's annuity fund. Investigators also allege she forged several letters in her mother's name requesting advance payments from the annuity fund.
State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a written statement that private pension funds exist to provide financial security to workers who paid into them over a lifetime, and that the indictment alleges a scheme to take money the defendant was not entitled to. Martha Nye, interim director of the Division of Criminal Justice, described the alleged concealment of a family member's death as a calculated betrayal of a fund that workers depend on.
Second-degree crimes under New Jersey law carry up to 10 years in state prison and fines of up to $150,000; third-degree crimes carry up to five years and fines of up to $15,000. The allegations remain unproven charges at this stage.
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