A Kansas man accused of duping hundreds of people into paying for autopsies that his company did not perform is expected to plead guilty to fraud charges next month.
Shawn Parcells, 42, on Tuesday filed a notice of intent to change his plea to 10 federal charges of wire fraud. A change of plea hearing is scheduled for March 3.
Prosecutors say Parcells used his business, National Autopsy Services in Topeka, to charge clients $3,000 for autopsies on their loved ones between May 2016 and May 2019 -- but never performed the procedures.
The indictment alleges that Parcells bilked at least 375 clients for a total of more than $1.1 million.
Parcells claimed to be a pathologist but had no formal training, according to the indictment. He worked from 1996 to 2003 as a pathologist's assistant with the Jackson County, Mo., Medical Examiner's Office.