Man impersonated dead mother for six years

Posted: Thu 18 Jun 2009 8 14 am

A New York man has been charged with impersonating his dead mother for six years so he could steal $117,000 (Â£70,800) in government benefits.

Thomas Prusik-Parkin, 49, allegedly wore a wig, thick make-up and old dresses as well as props such as a cane and fake ID as part of his elaborate ruse to claim social security benefits and rent subsidies.
Prosecutors, who described the alleged fraud as "unparalleled in its scope and brazenness", say it started as soon as Mr Prusik-Parkin's mother, Irene Prusik, died in 2003 aged 73.

Mr Prusik-Parkin, who had lived with her, allegedly gave his mother's funeral director a false social security number and date of birth so her death did not show up on government records.

Dressed as Mrs Prusik, he would then collect benefit cheques, visit banks and even go to renew her driving licence, say police in Brooklyn.

On each occasion, he would be accompanied by an accomplice, Mhilton Rimolo. Posing as her nephew, he would help the frail old lady to walk and communicate with officials.

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Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 593

Jacqui Smith suddenyl jumps to her feet and, with renewed fire in her eyes, wails "You see!!! You see!!! I was right all along about ID cards! With ID cards this sort of thing could never happen. Never!! How dare my successor even consider a U-Turn?"

Sorry .. just a picture that popped into my fevered brain. Twisted Evil