PAIR PLEAD GUILTY IN INSURANCE SCAM

Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti, Jr. announced that two more men have entered guilty pleas related to an insurance fraud scam that involved hundreds of insurance agents across Louisiana. Over the past year and a half, the AG’s Insurance Fraud Support Unit has investigated hundreds of licensed insurance agents for submitting bogus continuing education credits to the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

Leo Jacob was the continuing education instructor who reportedly provided bogus continuing education credits to all insurance agents involved in this investigation, and has previously pleaded guilty to six counts of filing false public records. Jacob was convicted of furnishing certificates of completion to numerous agents, when in fact no such courses had been attended or taught.

The AG’s office said on April 19, 2005, Bobby L. Anthony of Loranger pleaded guilty to one count of filing false public records. Anthony is a licensed insurance agent who purchased phony continuing education credits from Leo Jacob and reportedly submitted the phony credits with his insurance license renewal application. Anthony was placed on two years active supervised probation, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs.

Jerry Kenneth Lee of Meadville, Miss., pleaded guilty to one count of forgery and one count of filing false public records. Lee purchased phony continuing education credits from Leo Jacob and reportedly submitted the phony credits with his insurance license renewal application. Lee was placed on two years active supervised probation, and ordered to pay a $500 fine and court costs.