Former La. Insurance Producer Arrested

A former Shreveport, La., insurance producer was arrested and issued a cease and desist order for allegedly misappropriating insurance funds, according to Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Robert Wooley.

John Michael Guevara was arrested by the State Police Fraud Unit and booked on four counts of misappropriation of funds. At the same time, Department of Insurance Fraud Unit investigators served Guevara with a cease and desist order charging him with collecting premiums from insureds and failing to remit the funds to the insurer while he was a licensed producer.

The order states that Guevara reported to the company that he lost $2,021.73 in premiums collected from policyholders. It was later discovered that Guevara also had collected additional funds he did not remit to the company. The total premiums collected and not remitted totaled $2,587.47.

DOI records show that Guevara held a life and health insurance license from May 1988 until May 2004. He also held a property and casualty license from June 1988 until May 1997. Department records list his addresses as 2013 MacArthur Drive, Bldg. #2, Alexandria, and 3126 Cedar Creek, Shreveport.

A Sinking Feeling in La.

The Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud Unit reported it recently closed a month long investigation with the arrests of three Concordia Parish individuals.

Michell Warren of Vidalia, Milton Cupstid of Ferriday and Fred Taylor of Vidalia were charged with one count each of LRS 22:1243 --Insurance Fraud. The three individuals allegedly conspired together and staged a crash that involved submerging a vehicle, owned by Cupstid, into Old River.

They were booked into the Concordia Parish jail.

Unlicensed Chiropractor Indicted

The Texas Department of Insurance, working in conjunction with the Collin County District Attorney's Office, announced an indictment against Don Bauer of Plano for insurance fraud.

Bauer, who had not held a valid chiropractor license since 1996, allegedly billed insurance companies for radiology services as a Doctor of Chiropractic Care (D.C.). Records show more than 1,300 individual claims submitted under a false license, with an aggregate loss of over $200,000 to 31 separate insurance companies.

The case was investigated by TDI's Fraud Unit with assistance from the Collin County DA's office. The offense of submitting a claim when unauthorized to do so is punishable by fines and imprisonment.

San Antonio Agents Subject of Fraud Alert

The Texas Department of Insurance issued a fraud alert pertaining to two San Antonio insurance agencies, The Insurance Center and The Insurance Connection, operating at 539 South General McMullen, 924 S. Zarzamora, and 710 Bynum St.

TDI said the agencies, operated by Velia Fuentes and/or Valerie Fuentes, allegedly took in premium payments without providing insurance coverage. They are currently under investigation for insurance fraud.

Consumers who have purchased insurance through these agencies may not be covered and should contact the TDI Fraud Division by calling toll-free (888) 327-8818. Spanish-language assistance is available.