A Harrisburg man faces charges that he stole state retirees pension checks. 25 year old Sheldon Stephens is accused by State Attorney General Kathleen Kane of stealing money from two state retirees by diverting their pension checks into a bank account he allegedly created for that purpose. Kane says Stephens gained access to the retirees account information when he worked as a paid intern in 2011 for the Public School Employees Retirement System.
Stephens allegedly diverted one pension check, and attempted to divert the check of a second person into a fictitious bank account. Charges against Stephens include one count of Theft by Unlawful Taking or Deposition and one count of Criminal Attempt, Theft by Unlawful Taking or Deposition and one count of Identity Theft.
Stephens surrendered to authorities Wednesday evening.
Stephens drew national attention last year when he accused Kevin Clash, the voice of “Sesame Street” Elmo of a sexual relationship when he was still 16 years old. Stephens later recanted his claim.