Maryland Insurance Agent Faces Felony Charges for Fraudulent Life Insurance Scheme

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office has announced that Corrie Dewayne Alston, a 51-year-old insurance agent from Bowie, Maryland, has been indicted by a Prince George’s County Grand Jury on multiple felony charges related to theft and insurance fraud. The accusations stem from Alston’s alleged submission of numerous fraudulent life insurance applications while working as a licensed agent, seeking to profit from commissions on policies that were never intended to be legitimate. The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Attorney General’s Fraud and Corruption Unit and the Maryland Insurance Administration, revealed a scheme involving the creation of fictitious policyholders to generate illicit income.

According to the indictment, Alston is charged with one count of a felony theft scheme, with the alleged value of the stolen funds falling between $1,500 and $25,000, and 21 counts of felony insurance fraud, each exceeding $300. The investigation uncovered that while employed as an information technology specialist for the federal government, Alston concurrently worked as a licensed insurance agent for the Don Pope Insurance Agency, selling policies for the Senior Life Insurance Company. During this dual employment, he allegedly submitted applications for 21 non-existent individuals. Investigators revealed that Alston admitted to intentionally selecting Hispanic surnames for these fictitious applicants, believing that the insurance company would be less likely to thoroughly verify their Social Security Numbers due to assumptions about undocumented individuals. This tactic, the Attorney General’s Office alleges, was a cynical attempt to circumvent scrutiny and secure undeserved commission payments.

The scheme, as detailed by the Attorney General’s Office, resulted in approximately $5,122 in alleged fraudulent commission payments wrongfully received by Alston from Senior Life Insurance Company. These funds were reportedly obtained based on the submission of these fake insurance applications. The alleged actions highlight concerns about individuals exploiting their professional positions and potentially preying on vulnerable populations or perpetuating harmful stereotypes for financial gain. Insurance fraud, as a broader issue, can have far-reaching consequences, including increased costs for all policyholders and a general erosion of trust within the insurance industry.

The case is slated to be heard in the Prince George’s County Circuit Court. It is important to note that a criminal indictment is an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The Attorney General’s Office has acknowledged the contributions of various individuals and units within both the Attorney General’s Office and the Maryland Insurance Administration for their roles in leading and assisting with this investigation, including members of the Criminal Division, the Fraud and Corruption Unit, and forensic auditors and investigators from the Maryland Insurance Administration, as well as the State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

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