La. Agents Charged, Suspended

Two insurance agents in Lafayette were arrested and their licenses suspended after they allegedly submitted fraudulent documents and misappropriated insurance funds, according to acting Louisiana Insurance Commissioner J. Robert Wooley. Coordinated efforts by the Department of Insurance and the state police resulted in the arrests. Additional charges could be filed pending further investigations. Robert Short, 29, allegedly forged applicant signatures on insurance applications, altered checks and misappropriated insurance premiums by collecting them and failing to remit payment to the insurance company. Jason Louis Berard, 28, is charged with insurance fraud for allegedy signing fraudulent insurance applications. Each was served with a summary suspension of all insurance licenses and an order to cease and desist from all insurance transactions. They were arrested by the Louisiana State Police Fraud Enforcement Division on a total of 20 counts of insurance-related charges against Short and three against Berard. Office records were seized from their business address at 6 Flagg Place, Suite D, Lafayette, and other undisclosed locations.