Former Bakersfield insurance agent arraigned after allegedly stealing clients’ insurance premiums
News: 2022 Press Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Formerly licensed insurance agent David Lance Hall, 64, of Bakersfield, was arraigned yesterday in Kern County Superior Court on six felony counts of theft and misappropriations of fiduciary funds after allegedly stealing money from his clients that was meant to pay for their insurance coverage.
The California Department of Insurance received a complaint from the insurance company Hall worked for alleging he diverted and misappropriated money he collected from several clients for their insurance premiums.
The Department’s investigation determined Hall, while working as a licensed agent, withdrew money entrusted to him by his clients for insurance coverage from his business bank trust account and deposited that money into his personal account. The investigation found Hall did this on six separate occasions between September 2018 and December 2018. His alleged theft of premium funds from his clients totals $11,961.
The Department revoked Hall’s license on March 8, 2021. The Kern County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case. Hall is scheduled to return to court on April 22, 2022.
Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
