A Dickinson, N.D., insurance agent accused of stealing $30,000 from a client has pleaded not guilty to five felony theft counts. Meanwhile, a former Bismarck insurance agent is headed to prison for stealing money from clients.
Authorities allege that Scott Biggs, of Dickinson, took the money from a client’s trust account between June 2009 and November 2011 for his own use.
The Dickinson Press reports that defense attorney Irv Nodland says the case should be handled as a civil matter and not as a criminal matter, but Judge William Herauf ruled there was enough evidence to proceed with the criminal case.
In July, state Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm ordered Biggs to stop selling insurance in North Dakota.
Fifty-three-year-old Brent Kitzan, of Bismarck, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of theft, eight counts of insurance fraud and five counts of felony registration of securities.
Burleigh County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Ubben tells the Bismarck Tribune the combination of sentences means Kitzan will serve six years in prison.
A judge also ordered Kitzan to repay more than $747,000 to victims.
Kitzan was accused of taking more than $1.4 million from 21 clients.
Court documents say Kitzen collected premiums from clients, but did not send the payments to insurance companies. The documents also say he took out personal loans from clients and collected money for investments from clients, but never invested the money.
Topics Agencies
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