Woodside insurance broker accused of stealing $22,300

NEW YORK, NY (07/27/2010)(readMedia)-- The owner of a Woodside insurance brokerage was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing $22,300 in commissions from her former employer.

Gohar Parunakyan, 40, of Fresh Meadows, is charged with typing her name on 17 commission checks made payable to Vital Insurance Brokerage. She is accused of cashing the checks while she was employed as an agent by Vital.

Parunakyan was arrested following an investigation by the New York State Insurance Department's Frauds Bureau.

The investigation revealed that Parunakyan cashed checks sent to Vital by two insurance companies between September 2006 and January 2009. She was fired by Vital in 2009 and the same year opened her own insurance brokerage, H&M Insurance Brokerage Inc. on 69th Street in Woodside Queens.

Parunakyan was arrested by the Frauds Bureau and state police assigned to the office of Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. She was charged with 17 counts each of third degree grand larceny and second degree forgery.

If she is convicted, Parunakyan could be sentenced to up to four years in prison. A hearing will be scheduled in Queens County Court.

The case is being prosecuted by Brown's office.

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