Case: The Bureau of Investigation opened an investigative case on a public adjuster based on a referral from an insurance company. The insurer alleged that the public adjuster pocketed several claim proceeds checks belonging to multiple insureds. 

The original source of the case was a referral from an insurer's contracted special investigation firm. The investigative steps in this case included obtaining the affidavits of numerous victims and obtaining insurance company and bank records. 

The first victim, a senior citizen, discovered she was due to be paid more than $117,000 in claim proceeds from this public adjuster that was never disbursed by him. The consumer made numerous calls to the public adjuster to no avail. Shortly after, nine additional victim affidavits were obtained who also stated they too had their claims checks pocketed by the subject. In each instance, the public adjuster ignored the phone calls and emails from these insureds. Banking records illustrated the subject was living lavishly from the claim proceeds, which included making frequent visits to casinos while his insureds endured the hardship of unpaid claims.  

The Bureau of Investigations shared its file with our Criminal Investigations Division (CID). As a result, on July 23, 2024, the public adjuster was charged with one count of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person or Disabled Adult, a felony. 

Case Disposition: The public adjuster’s license was suspended indefinitely due to his arrest. On March 30, 2026, he was rearrested and charged with organized fraud, financial exploitation of an elderly person, diversion and misappropriation of a premium, and failure to report and account for funds. He is currently awaiting trial.

(View CFO Blaise Ingoglia's press release about the case here.)

Case: An investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Investigation into a life, health and variable annuity agent based on referral from our Division of Consumer Services. The review by Consumer Services indicated the agent likely had submitted applications through the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) without the knowledge and consent of consumers. 

Affidavits from consumer victims unwittingly involved in the matter were obtained along with documents from insurance companies, including an affidavit from an insurer's employee, and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Consumer complainants reported they discovered their fraudulent enrollment in health insurance policies through notification from the Federally Facilitated Marketplace. The agent was quickly identified as the perpetrator of the scheme. To compound matters, the agent falsified the insured’s income so they would qualify for federal premium tax credits.

When this type of fraud occurs, consumers are often unaware until they file their income tax and are told they owe the government repayment of the subsidies because the agent submitted federal documents attesting to a much lower income to qualify for a "no-cost" policy. Until the issue is resolved, consumers are denied their tax refund and must go through a lengthy ordeal to resolve the matter.

Disposition: The agent was fined $3,500 and placed on probation.

Case: The Bureau of Investigation opened an investigative file on a life, health and variable annuity agent based on a compliance review of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (FINRA) disciplinary actions. The FINRA investigation found the agent failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation and was permanently barred from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity.

The agent declined to provide a response to a department inquiry and did not agree to be interviewed.

Disposition: The agent's license was revoked.

Case: An insured filed a complaint with the Department alleging he had paid a general lines agent annual premiums for homeowners’ insurance for three years and after filing a claim, discovered the agent never placed the insurance leaving his home uninsured. The agent was found to have issued fraudulent Certificates of Insurance to the insured.

During the investigation, a second consumer filed a complaint also alleging misappropriation of his homeowners' insurance premium by submitting only a portion of the premium paid to the agent by the consumer's mortgage company. In that instance, the consumer was not aware the policy was cancelled for non-payment until seven months later, when she received a partial refund of premium. 

Disposition: The agent's licenses were suspended for two years.