Con artist posed as dead mom in fraud scheme

NEW YORK (AP) - A Brooklyn con artist has been convicted in a bizarre fraud 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.

Prosecutors said Parkin doctored his mother's death certificate after she died in 2003 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.

Also, Prusik had deeded her house to Parkin but he failed to make the payments and it was sold at foreclosure.

Prosecutors said Parkin sued the new owner in his mother's name alleging real estate fraud.