Licensed Agent Says She’s Not Guilty

A licensed insurance agent from Stockton, Calif. pled not guilty to 69 felony counts during her recent arraignment.

Kim Searini, aka Kim Lawrence, aka Kim Gurtis, 40, was arrested following a joint investigation by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Criminal Investigations Branch, Investigation Bureau, and the San Joaquin District Attorney’s Office.

The 69 felony counts, consisted of burglary, theft from an elder or dependent, theft of funds by an agent, offering or selling of unqualified securities, false statements to buy or sell securities, and grand theft. She was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail and bail was placed at $500,000.

Searini is alleged to have solicited victims to make an investment or purchase an annuity. She allegedly would subsequently move some or all of the money into her own personal account. Prosecutors reason Segarini’s motives came from personal financial problems which arose as a result of bad investments. She allegedly embezzled roughly $700,000 from her clients between 1997 and 2001.

Segarini holds appointments with a number of insurance companies, however CDI investigators concluded that the majority of her alleged investment business was written via “Direct Your Future Inc.,” “Financial Solutions,” and “A Caring Hand.” CDI investigators reported that none of those entities have been authorized to act as an insurer in California.