Former Michigan Agent Pleads Guilty in Auto Insurance Fraud Case

A former Flint, Michigan, insurance agent has pleaded guilty to selling or offering customers fake auto insurance certificates, state regulators said.

Attorney General Dana Nessel said Dillen Leonard, 25, pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts of insurance fraud. They include four counts of insurance fraud, a four-year felony, and one count of using a computer to commit a crime, which is a seven-year felony in this instance.

Leonard sold or offered customers fraudulent certificates of insurance that appeared to be legitimate and knew that his clients were presenting the documents to the Secretary of State as insurance in order to apply for or renew their vehicle registrations. During July 2016, Leonard sold at least 29 fraudulent certificates.

The case was referred to the Attorney General’s office by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) after the department received complaints and investigated Leonard’s alleged misconduct.

“This is an excellent example of an individual attempting to manipulate our regulated insurance system to his advantage, and the serious legal consequences that result when our laws are broken,” Nessel said in a statement released by her office. “I am grateful for the support from the Department of Insurance and Financial Services in resolving this matter and its vigilance in safeguarding Michigan residents from fraudulent acts like this.”

Leonard is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. March 19.

The newly established DIFS Fraud Investigation Unit investigates criminal and fraudulent activity related to the insurance and financial markets and works with the Attorney General and law enforcement to prosecute these crimes.

Source: Michigan Attorney General’s Office

Topics Auto Fraud Agencies Michigan