OID Investigation leads to charges

A former insurance agent in Creek County has been charged with three additional felonies after an investigation by the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID). Donna Parrick, of Depew, is charged with Exploitation of an Elderly Person, Embezzlement and Violation of the Oklahoma Licensed Producer Act.
 
“As Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner, it’s my job to protect consumers,” said Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak. “Our Anti-Fraud Unit will aggressively investigate claims of fraud and go after anyone who tries to take advantage of Oklahoma seniors.”

The most recent charges were filed July 5th. The OID began investigating after receiving a complaint from Cindy Hightower, on behalf of her mother Della Hall, who is 80 years old and on bottled oxygen. Hall bought a homeowners policy from Parrick but never received a copy of the policy, despite several requests. Hightower then called her mother’s insurance company and discovered that the policy didn’t exist. Parrick tried to persuade Hall to keep silent and not report the matter to authorities.
 
Despite the suspension of her license on June 14th, Parrick sent Hall a business letter and a check for $135, which Hall received on June 29th. The business letter claimed an “internal audit” had discovered a “discrepancy” that required a “premium correction” in Hall’s favor. Since Parrick was not allowed to conduct any insurance-related activities under her suspension, OID investigators asked the district attorney to charge Parrick with Violation of the Oklahoma Licensed Producer Act.
 
Parrick was charged with embezzlement in a different case on June 1st. In that case, Parrick took $3,964 from a 77-year-old widow, deposited it in her personal bank account, but never bought the policies to cover the victim’s home and rental properties. A third victim, a 70-year-old woman, said Parrick took $345 from her, but also never purchased the requested coverage.
 
The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.