Southern California Agent Arrested for Scamming Insurers for $1.4M

Eric Lee, 64, of Orange County, Calif., was arrested in late September by the California Department of Insurance and charged with 20 felony counts, including grand theft and allegedly providing false or misleading information to an insurer during a scheme that netted him over $1.4 million in fraudulent commissions.

CDI began its investigation of the insurance agent in 2011 after an audit revealed many of Lee’s policies failed to have any premium payments after the first policy year.

Investigators believe Lee directed policyholders to complete fraudulent applications with false or misleading information and insufficient financial means to pay for the insurance policies being written.

As a result, Lee received $1.4 million in fraudulently obtained commission payments between October 2009 and October 2010.

Lee is being prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office with bail set at $1.4 million and is required to show that bail funds are not from money obtained through his scheme.