Thursday, November 17, 2011
Oklahoma City – A Stigler woman began serving time in prison this month for crimes uncovered earlier this year by anti-fraud investigators at the Oklahoma Insurance Department.
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak revoked the insurance license of Amanda Jean Burgess on July 15. Burgess was accused by OID anti-fraud investigators of bilking both insurance companies she represented and individual customers.
“The impact of Ms. Burgess’ crimes went beyond the monetary gain she sought,” Doak noted today. “By misappropriating premiums paid by policyholders, Ms. Burgess left her customers unknowingly uninsured. In some cases, customers only discovered they were uninsured after an accident left them with large liabilities and no coverage.”
Charges against Burgess were filed early in August.
On Oct. 31 in Haskell County District Court, Burgess, 34, waived her right to a trial and pleaded guilty to four felony counts of embezzlement, three misdemeanor counts of embezzlement, two felony counts of perjury and one felony count of falsely impersonating another person to create liability. She was sentenced to a pair of 10-year prison terms – with all but the first five years suspended – and was remanded to the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. She will face 15 years of probation upon release.
Burgess was also ordered by the court to pay more than $9,100 in fines and court costs, and to make restitution to her victims.
The case against Burgess was filed and prosecuted on behalf of District Attorney Farley Ward by Assistant District Attorney Danita Williams.
“I commend our investigators for building a solid case, and prosecutors in Haskell County for their swift and professional action in filing charges that resulted in this conviction,” Doak said today.
“Ms. Burgess’ actions are contrary to the honest, professional service provided by the vast majority of the roughly 80,000 agents and brokers licensed to sell insurance in Oklahoma,” Doak said. “However, the fact that a former agent is serving time in prison for white-collar crime should serve as a warning to others who break the trust of Oklahoma consumers. The Oklahoma Insurance Department will not tolerate fraud and, with the help of prosecutors throughout the state, this agency will see that insurance criminals are brought to justice.”
Doak encouraged consumers who suspect fraud in any insurance transaction to contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department Consumer Hotline at (800) 522-0071, or online at oid.ok.gov.
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About the Oklahoma Insurance Department
The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.
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For more information contact:
Glenn Craven
(405) 522-1769
e-mail: glenn.craven@oid.ok.gov