Printer Friendly Version
Release Date: April 27, 2006
Release Number: 06-619-SAN
Contact Name: Deanne Amaden
Phone Number: 415.975.4741
Firm provided benefit services for more than 50 companies
in Central Valley, Riverside, Victorville
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
U.S. Department of Labor news releases are accessible on the
Department's Newsroom
page. The information in this news release will be made available
in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or
disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when
placing your request at 202.693.7765 or TTY 202.693.7755. The U.S.
Department of Labor is committed to providing America's employers and
employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply
with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit the
Department's Compliance
Assistance page.
|