Washington Insurance Agent Who Sold Fake Policies Sentenced

AWashington insurance agent who sold hundreds of thousands of dollars in fake business-insurance policies has been sentenced to more than two years in prison and ordered to pay back $532,659 in restitution.

Brenda MacLaren-Beattie, 68, of Des Moines, Wash., was sentenced in King County Superior Court to 26 months in prison.

An investigation found that from late 2001 through 2009, MacLaren-Beattie issued fake insurance to 25 oral surgeons in Washington and 16 in Oregon. During that time, she is believed to have collected more than $532,000 in premiums, often issuing counterfeit certificates of insurance to doctors and clinics. Her insurance license expired in 2009.

In a few cases — a lost camera, some water damage — she paid out small insurance claims herself. One of her clients became suspicious after a claim check was issued by MacLaren-Beattie, rather than from an insurance company.

The fictitious policies were for business owners’ general liability insurance.