Ex-wife sentenced for stealing ex-husband’s retirement funds
CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A woman found guilty of stealing her ex-husband’s retirement money was sentenced Wednesday morning by the State Attorney’s Office.
Robin Joanna Bell, 58, was reported to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office in July 2021 by her ex-husband, who claimed she was filing forged documents to get his retirement benefits.
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When the pair finalized their divorce in 2015, Bell requested half of her now ex-husband’s retirement, as he had already been retired. According to the SAO, the victim agreed but also wanted half of her retirement when she retired, as well.
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order was filed, and both were legally entitled to half of each other’s retirement. Bell then began receiving half of his benefits under the new court order.
When Bell retired in December 2020, the victim contacted the Florida Retirement System to start receiving his benefits. However, he was told they received a document with his signature, signing over all rights to the account to Bell. That’s when the ex-husband contacted law enforcement.
“The defendant’s actions have stolen not only her ex-husband’s retirement savings but also his sense of security after a lifetime of dedicated service to his community,” State Attorney Bill Gladson said.
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She was ordered to pay the victim restitution of $153,000 and will be on probation for 15 years following her time in prison.
Officials said while Bell was out on bond, she tried to have her ex-husband drop the charges, in which resulted a charge of tampering.
Bell was sentenced to 25 years for grand theft over $100,000, 20 years for two counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information, 20 years for witness tampering, and five years for forgery of a public record.
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