WESTPORT — A local mother and son are accused of illegally withdrawing funds from the bank account of a deceased man who had depended on them for help.

Adam Clawson, 42, and Arlene Clawson, 66, both Westport residents, face a lengthy list of charges following their arrest last week.

Each of the Clawsons was charged by police with: first-degree identity theft, third-degree larceny, payment card theft, illegal use of a payment card, receiving goods/services obtained by illegal use of a payment card and six counts of fraudulent use of an ATM.

Police were alerted last May by the fiduciary representative for a man who died in February that several cash withdrawals were made from his bank account between the day after his death until sometime in May.

The withdrawals were made at area banks’ ATMs, police said. 

After reviewing the banks’ surveillance footage on the withdrawal dates, the investigating officer observed a younger man and older woman — later identified as Adam and Arlene Clawson — making the transactions, according to the police report.

Police said Adam Clawson had helped the alleged victim by running errands for him before his death. Given that access, police said, Clawson apparently took the man’s ATM card, which later was used for the fraudulent transactions.

Both Clawsons were identified as suspects after further investigation, police said, and a warrant for mother and son’s arrest was issued.

The Clawsons were taken into custody Dec. 3, and later released after each posted a $25,000 bond. They are scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Dec. 15 at state Superior Court in Stamford.