Former Owner of Fresno Firm Sentenced in Fraud Case

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

San Francisco, California - The former owner of a Fresno-based company that provided services to the employee benefit plans of more than 50 California employers has been ordered to pay $316,770 in restitution, and sentenced to 240 days home detention and 60 months probation for mail fraud.

William L. Parrish Jr., of Clovis, California, former owner of the Parrish Company, pleaded guilty in October to one count of mail fraud and was sentenced March 27 in the Eastern District Court of California in Fresno.

Parrish was indicted by a grand jury in July 2004 on one count of mail fraud, three counts of making false statements and one count of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan as a result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California. The Parrish Company, which had offices in Fresno, Clovis and Riverside, provided administrative services for employee benefit plans.

“Theft of employee benefit assets is equivalent to stealing workers health and retirement savings,” said Ann L. Combs, assistant secretary of labor for EBSA. “This case sends a clear message that we are committed to protecting the benefit promises made to workers.”

EBSA administers the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which protects workers’ employee benefits. In fiscal year 2005, EBSA achieved monetary results of $1.7 billion related to pension, 401(k), health and other benefits for millions of American workers and their families. Employers and workers with questions or concerns regarding their private-sector pension and health plans may contact the EBSA regional office at 415.975.4600 or EBSA’s toll free number, 1.866.444.EBSA (3272). Information is also available from the agency’s Web site at www.dol.gov/ebsa.

(U.S. v. Parrish)
CR-05184-AWI-1

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Contact Name: Deanne Amaden
Phone Number: 415.975.4741