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Posted: Wednesday, 24 June 2009 4:43PM
False insurance leads to jail time for north suburban agent
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WAUKEGAN (STNG) -- A north suburban insurance agent has pleaded guilty to three felonies for allegedly taking money for business clients' workers' compensation coverage but spending it on himself instead of buying the policies.
Reuben Collier Jr. of Zion pleaded guilty earlier this month to four Class 3 felony charges in Lake County Court, according to a Wednesday release from the Illinois Department of Insurance.
Collier, an insurance agent licensed by the department, operated Collier Insurance Agency of Waukegan. Working with Waukegan police and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office, state investigators concluded Collier’s firm fabricated insurance certificates for 22 north suburban businesses and bilked them of about $400,000 that he used for personal expenses, the release said.
According to investigators, Collier “willfully forged hundreds” of insurance certificates, misrepresenting that client payments for premiums had been forwarded to insurers for coverage, the release said.
State and police investigators found that many of Collier’s clients paid cash for worker compensation coverage after Collier told them lower premiums paid reflected a discount because of cash payments, the release said.
Bogus policies were renewed when the periods was near or past the lapse deadline, with clients visiting Collier personally to make cash payments, the release said. When clients needed additional proof of insurance, Collier allegedly created a fraudulent certificate.
He was sentenced to 30 months probation, 12 months of periodic imprisonment including 10 on electronic home monitoring; restitution in the amount of $97,136 divided among 24 victims. He is also subject to random urine and breathalyzer testing; and must provide a DNA sample.
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Copyright 2009 STNG Wire, The Chicago Sun-Times. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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