Iowa Insurance Agent Charged with Creating Bogus Policies

A 46-year-old insurance agent in northeast Iowa has been accused of creating fake life insurance policies so she could make more in commissions.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says Melissa Williams, of Dike, is charged with one count of mail fraud. She’s scheduled to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids next week.

Prosecutors say that between July 2011 and January 2012, Williams used the names of real people on bogus life insurance applications and was paid commissions on the sales. Prosecutors say Williams covered the initial premiums to hide her scheme.

A man who answered a phone at a number listed for Williams said there would be no comment. Williams’ attorney didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.