‘Agent of the Year’ in Georgia Sentenced to 2+ Years After Misusing Premium Payments

A central Georgia insurance agency owner and former Alfa insurance agent of the year must serve more than two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to bank fraud and misusing more than $220,000 in premiums.

Jeremy Lasseter, who owned a Warner Robins agency and had been named a top producer for four straight years, repaid the money to the policyholder before his sentencing Nov. 19, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia said in a bulletin.

“The money taken from the victim has had a significant negative impact on her life. The defendant must be held accountable for defrauding her and abusing the trust placed in him by Alfa Insurance,” said U.S. Attorney William Keyes.

The insured held several policies with Alfa, all arranged by Lasseter, the indictment shows. He convinced the woman to make checks out to him, instead of Alfa, or pay in cash. He then used some of the premium payments to cover premiums on policies for other insureds, prosecutors said.

“Defendant now admits and agrees that between March 1, 2020, and September 7, 2023, he carried out a scheme to get money from federally insured financial institutions using material false and fraudulent representations to D.W. with the intent to defraud,” the plea agreement reads.

Alfa, based in Alabama, writes property and life insurance in Georgia. A company spokesperson said Lasseter was terminated in 2023 for unrelated reasons, but a review of Lasseter’s book of business prompted Alfa to notify the Georgia insurance commissioner’s office.

“Alfa has fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation and is eager to see justice served,” reads a statement from Alfa.

Lasseter began work at Alfa in 2017, after working at New York Life Insurance and at State Farm Insurance in Georgia, according to his Linkedin page. After 2023 he worked as a sales manager at a car dealership. Lasseter had been appointed with multiple carriers in recent years, and was licensed in property, casualty, accident and life lines, the Georgia agent license verification site shows.

Prosecutors said that Lasseter initiated the fraud to secure Alfa’s agent of the year award for an additional consecutive year, an honor that would grant him other perks and status.

Topics Agencies Georgia