| Updated: 9/05/2012 2:44 pm |
Published: 9/05/2012 1:37 pm
|
A former insurance agent in Creek County faces four additional felonies after an investigation by the Oklahoma Insurance Department.
Donna Parrick is charged with two counts of Exploitation of an Elderly Person and two counts of Embezzlement.
"It's rare for an insurance agent to take advantage of a client," said Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak. "But when it happens, our Anti-Fraud Unit aggressively investigates and makes sure justice is served."
The OID suspended Parrick's license after she was first charged with embezzlement in June. In two separate cases, Parrick allegedly accepted premium payments from elderly clients, but never purchased the promised coverage. The OID's Anti-Fraud investigators quickly discovered more victims.
In July, a Bristow insurance agent called the OID on behalf of one of Parrick's former clients. The 74-year-old woman contacted the agency to inquire about making her monthly premium payment after she went to Parrick's office and discovered it had been closed.
Once the agent called the victim's insurance carrier, she discovered Parrick had allegedly gotten a quote, but never purchased a policy on the woman's behalf. As a result, the victim's husband's business had gone uninsured for months.
In August, a 79-year-old woman with a similar story contacted the same Bristow agency about renewing her homeowner's policy. The woman said she'd been making monthly payments to Parrick since April 2011. But once again, when the agent called the insurance carrier, she discovered the policy didn't exist.
OID says both victims knew Parrick personally, paid her by check and trusted her to provide the promised insurance coverage. Parrick is now charged with ten felonies in Creek County.
Consumers with concerns about fraud, embezzlement or exploitation of the elderly are encouraged to call 1-800-522-0071.
