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Jeffrey Nazarian, 55, of Haverhill, was arraigned in Salem Superior Court on two counts of forgery, one count each of larceny over $1200, perjury, and uttering, authorities said.
Nazarian received over $70,000 after the death of his former professor and friend, John Hamer, on Jan. 30, 2019, according to the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General.
Nazarian managed to get into Hamer’s personal bank account and used his pension benefits to pay down his credit card debt, the indictment alleges.
The Office of the Inspector General said Nazarian went so far as to claim Hamer was still alive so he would continue to collect pension checks.
“The indictment also alleges that Nazarian forged Hamer’s signature on nine checks drawn on that bank account. The indictment further alleges that Nazarian forged Hamer’s signature on a State Retirement Board form attesting that the deceased professor was still alive and eligible to continue receiving pension payments.”
Nazarian was indicted on Dec. 28, 2023, by an Essex County Grand Jury after the Office of the Inspector General and the Attorney General’s Office investigated.
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