Semiha Nilgun Gencsoy, a 71-year-old resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has pleaded guilty to the possession of stolen money. She admitted to fraudulently obtaining $328,478.38 in pension benefits meant for West Virginia public employees.
Court documents and statements reveal that Gencsoy's father, a retired mechanical engineering professor at West Virginia University, was receiving pension benefits from the state upon his retirement in June 1985. Following his death in June 2007, her mother received survivor benefits through the West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board (WVCPRB). These payments were deposited into a joint bank account shared by Gencsoy and her mother.
Gencsoy's mother passed away in April 2008. Despite knowing that the benefits should have ceased after her mother's death, Gencsoy continued to receive them until June 2023 without notifying WVCPRB or closing the account. She transferred these funds into an account under her control for personal use.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage with United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presiding over the hearing. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston praised the investigative efforts of WVCPRB and the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
Gencsoy is set for sentencing on August 28, 2025, facing up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Additionally, she owes restitution amounting to $328,478.38.
Further details can be accessed via PACER under Case No. 2:25-cr-75 or on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia.
