Insurance agent charged with identity theft

Raleigh, N.C. — A Raleigh insurance agent has been charged with stealing the identities of more than 100 people to collect commissions for signing them up for Medicare, authorities said Monday.

Melissa Swain Parrish, 36, of 8423 Meadow View Lane in Bahama, was charged with one count each of identity theft and obtaining property by false pretense. She has been released from jail on a $100,000 bond.

Parrish, a contract agent with Miracle Insurance Co. of Raleigh, has surrendered her agent's license, authorities said.

State Department of Insurance investigators said Parrish stole people's identities – some of the people were deceased – and signed them up for Medicare Advantage plans. She collected more than $7,000 in commissions for the false applications, investigators said.

One of the alleged victims contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which passed the complaint on to the DOI's Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program. SHIIP provides unbiased information about Medicare and related insurance products to Medicare recipients or caregivers.