Con artist posed as dead mom in fraud scheme
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 05/04/2012
NEW YORK - A New York con artist has been convicted in a bizarre scheme that involved dressing up as his mother and collecting her health benefits for six years after she had died.
Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes announced the conviction Thursday of 51-year-old Thomas Parkin on charges including grand larceny, forgery and perjury. He faces up to 83 years in prison.
Prosecutors say Parkin doctored his mother's death certificate after her 2003 death to make it look as if she were alive. He dressed as his mother and renewed her driver's license.
The mother, Irene Prusik, had deeded her house to Parkin, but he failed to make the payments and it was sold at foreclosure.
Prosecutors say Parkin sued the new owner in his mother's name, alleging real estate fraud.
Copyright AP Modified, Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
PRINT
Water Cooler News
-
Cockroach survives by losing sweet tooth
If you think it's hard to outsmart a cockroach, you're right. Scientists have discovered how some of these bugs evolved to resist sweet-tasting poison baits.
-
4 lb hairball removed from tiger's belly
-
5 arrested in $4M jewelry heist, kidnap
-
Oklahoma man smiles after truck found
-
What it's like to be eaten by bear
Latest News Headlines
-
Car strikes wall, semi on I-480
Two women are injured when their car crashes into a tractor-trailer on Interstate 480, closing the highway.
-
Fun Memorial Day weekend events
-
Woman uses Facebook for tornado aid
-
Bridge collapses in NW Washington
-
Northeast Ohio fishing report: Walleye
-
Vault: The '90 Rib Cook-Off
-
Man in chase planned suicide by cop
