Mass. Man Indicted for False Auto Filings

An Essex County, Massachusetts Grand Jury returned indictments against a Peabody man in connection with filing false motor vehicle insurance and personal property claims, forgery of a police report, larceny, and filing false police reports with the Beverly Police Department.

Tyler Parrish, 31, was charged with Larceny over $250 (4 counts), Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud (2 counts), Filing a False Police Report (3 counts), Attempted Larceny, Forgery, Uttering, and Insurance Fraud.

In April 2008, the Attorney General’s Office began an investigation after the matter had been referred by the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB). In July 2007, Parrish added rental insurance coverage to his Arbella Mutual Insurance Company (Arbella) policy for his personal motor vehicle. Investigators learned that Parrish reportedly then called Arbella an hour later stating that he had been in an accident between his car and another motor vehicle. A few days later, prior to his vehicle being repaired, authorities allege that Parrish filed a fraudulent vandalism claim with Arbella, and a false police report with the Beverly Police Department for vandalism that occurred on his vehicle.

Arbella referred this case to the IFB, who then conducted an investigation and discovered that Parrish had allegedly misreported the time of the motor vehicle accident in order to gain a rental car. Investigators from the IFB discovered that Parrish had vandalized his vehicle in an attempt to have it deemed a total loss. The matter was then referred to the Attorney General’s Office.

Investigators then began a review of Parrish’s past claims with insurance companies and banks and discovered that in May 2007, Parrish filed a false report claiming an engagement ring he had purchased was stolen on his way to a dinner. Parrish allegedly submitted a forged Salem Police Department police report in order to support his fraudulent insurance claim for the engagement ring. Investigators also discovered that on two separate occasions Parrish falsely reported that his ATM card had also been stolen and that the thieves had made withdrawals on his bank accounts.

Parrish is scheduled to be arraigned in Essex Superior Court on Oct. 22.