Dorian Parsley
A former Philadelphia police dispatcher has been sentenced to prison for selling confidential information about motor vehicle accidents to the operators of several tow truck businesses, including one in Frankford.
Dorian Parsley, 44, was ordered on Oct. 21 to serve 14 months in federal custody. Three days later, one of the the tow business owners, William Cheeseman, 43, was sentenced to three years probation, including six months on electronic monitoring. U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno presided over the hearings.
Between February 2011 and December 2013, Parsley collected weekly payments totaling more than $35,000 from three tow truck operators in exchange for providing them with real-time accident and disabled vehicle locations and the personal information of accident victims. The tow truck companies would use that information to beat competitors to the scene and gain an unfair business advantage. Parsley, a civilian, obtained the information while on duty through the police radio system, then used her personal mobile phone to send information to her co-conspirators via text message.
Officially, the police department uses a rotational policy when employing pre-approved, private tow truck operators to clear accident scenes and disabled vehicles from the roadway.
Parsley, of Philadelphia, was fired from her job after the allegations came to light. She pleaded guilty on July 21 to conspiracy, bribery and fraud.
Cheeseman, of Delran, N.J., operates K&B Autocraft, 4703 Worth St./2150 Kinsey St., in Frankford. He pleaded guilty to bribery, but was described by a prosecutor as the “least culpable” among the three, having participated in the scheme for a “very limited period” and been introduced to it by one of the other defendants, according to the Daily News. He must wear an electronic monitoring device for the first six months of his probation and may leave home only for work, medical reasons or religious reasons. He is barred from participating in the towing business throughout his probation, but may do other work. ••
