Man commits insurance fraud in order to pay for Hummer H3

SALEM - A former Peabody man who admitted filing fake insurance claims because of a mounting debt on his $45,000 2006 Hummer H3, will spend three months in jail before being placed on probation for three years and must pay $4,444.07 in restitution.

Tyler A. Parrish, 31, who last lived at 77A Proctor St., in Peabody, changed his plea from to guilty Friday morning in Salem Superior Court, confessing to 11 charges that involved insurance fraud, forgery, false insurance reports and larceny over $250 before Judge David A. Lowy.

Assistant Attorney General Michael J. Walsh told Lowy that the case began in July 2007 when Parrish claimed total loss damage to his 2006 Hummer H3 to Arbella Insurance because he wanted out of the $45,806, six-year auto loan at 20.35 percent interest, he took out with Toyota.

Arbella denied the claim and referred the case to the Insurance Fraud Bureau in August, following an investigation into the matter.

Their investigation led to Parrish's past claims with other insurance companies.

In May 2007, Parrish reported the loss of a $1,400 three stone princess cut diamond engagement ring which he purchased from Kay Jewelers with Travelers Insurance Company.

He reported it was stolen in Boston's North End on the way to an engagement dinner with his girlfriend. He then supported the claim with a police report he filed with the Salem police.

The report turned out to be false. Investigators learned that the engagement ring was actually being held by his fiancé's grandparents in Maine, Walsh reported.

The investigation also turned up that Parrish had twice reported his ATM card had been stolen on March 27 and March 28, and that he was reimbursed by his bank in the amount of $954.

But when investigators looked at the surveillance tapes from the bank where the card had been used, they saw Parrish driving up in his Hummer.

Then a third bank incident occurred where he was reimbursed another $301 in which he made a false withdrawal report to the bank.

Walsh argued for a longer punishment of a year in jail noting the seriousness of the charges and wide variety of schemes over a lengthy period. He also asked for restitution of $2,660.75 and another $1,383.73 for cost to bring Parrish back from Florida, where he was eventually located, to face the charges.

Parrish's defense lawyer John Keenan told Lowy that Parrish has "begun to turn his life around," as he suggested that his client be given time served, 40 days.

Parrish, who has a Master's degree and is a former job recruiter, now is helping inmates at the jail write letters home, read and understand the bible and God.

Keenan pointed out to Lowy that the charges involve just three different incidents as he noted his client's "very minor record," and the fact that Parrish fully cooperated with authorities and essentially confessed when confronted.

He emphasized that Parrish is $200,000 in debt from student loans, large credit card debt and the car.

Keenan said his client realizes the nature of the crimes, but will be on the straight and narrow when he gets out and is expected to go back to Florida, where his parents reside, and work at his uncle's restaurant.

Toyota is also looking to collect its money through a civil complaint, Keenan said.

In handing down the punishment, Lowy felt a sentence behind bars was appropriate but also said he took into account that Parrish is helping other inmates while incarcerated.

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