Mo. DOI Refuses License to Woman With Felony Fraud Conviction

June 21, 2005

The Missouri Department of Insurance has refused to issue an insurance producer license to Rochelle K. Whatley of Kansas City due to a felony conviction involving dishonesty and fraudulent conduct.

On March 23,2005, Whatley applied for license with the department as an insurance producer. Whatley provided to the department a narrative statement regarding her criminal background with a copy of an indictment, showing she was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in 1996.

The charges related to a telemarketing scheme conducted by the applicant and others from St. Joseph, Mo., to obtain funds for a "Say No to Drugs" campaign by promising mostly elderly individuals a valuable gift with very little actual value. Whatley was sentenced to 63 months in a federal penitentiary with three years supervised release and restitution in the amount of $220,908. On January 19, 2005, the applicant was discharged from supervision.

Missouri statues allow the director of the insurance department to refuse to issue a producer license if an applicant has been convicted of a felony or crime involving corrupt actions or practices, or if the applicant has used fraudulent practices or demonstrated incompetence in conducting business in the state of Missouri or elsewhere.