AGENT CHARGED WITH POCKETING PAYMENTS

A Lake Charles, La., insurance agent (producer) was arrested and issued a cease and desist order, along with a summary suspension of his license, on charges of submitting fraudulent damage repair claims and pocketing the payments, according to the Louisiana Depart-ment of Insurance.

Louisiana DOI Fraud Unit investigators, accompanied by members of the State Police Insurance Fraud Unit, served James O. Jarnagin, 49, with the C&D order and summary suspension on charges of insurance fraud.

The C&D order/summary suspension states that Jarnagin obtained blank invoices from a contractor and submitted bogus invoices in association with an otherwise legitimate property damage claim. The cumulative monetary value of the fraudulent claims for damages was more than $8,000. Jarnagin is prohibited from engaging in any activity relating to the insurance business.

DOI records show that Jarnagin held a property and casualty license from December 1992 until the current suspension. He also held a life and health license from January 1999 until it expired for failure to renew in May 2000.

Jarnagin’s address is listed as 409 East Jefferson, Lake Charles.