NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City con artist has been convicted in a bizarre scheme that involved dressing up as his mother and collecting her Social Security 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 at sentencing.
Prosecutors say Parkin doctored his mother's death certificate after her 2003 death to make it look as if she were alive. He even dressed as his mother and went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew 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.
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