Former Oklahoma Insurance Agent Sentenced for Wire Fraud

July 16, 2013

A former Bixby, Okla., insurance agent has been sentenced to ten months home confinement after pleading guilty to wire fraud that allowed him to illegally take commissions earned by other insurance agents, the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s (OID) announced.

The conviction comes after an investigation by the OID’s Anti-Fraud Unit.

Christopher M. Bland, 36, was indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of making false statements to a financial institution and six counts of aggravated identity theft. As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Bland, who owned and managed Business Consultants of South Tulsa, admitted to a scheme to defraud Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Co. and various insurance agents in his offices. He admitted opening bank accounts for agents without their permission, forging their signatures then taking their commissions.

Bland was also sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $15,197 in restitution and a $5,000 fine. Bland is also expected to perform 80 hours of community service.

Source: Oklahoma Insurance Department

Topics Fraud Agencies Oklahoma

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