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CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance

Former Seal Beach insurance agent sentenced for theft from elderly consumer

News: 2022 Press Release

For Release: November 7, 2022
Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566
Email Inquiries: cdipress@insurance.ca.gov

Former Seal Beach insurance agent sentenced for theft from elderly consumer

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Formerly licensed insurance agent Vincent Allen LaGrange, 66, of Seal Beach, was sentenced today in San Bernardino County Superior Court on one misdemeanor count of grand theft from an elder after an investigation by the Department of Insurance found he was acting as a licensed insurance agent to collect insurance premium payments from consumers, but pocketing the premium monies and leaving the consumers uninsured. LaGrange was sentenced to one year probation and has paid back full restitution to his victims. 

The Department of Insurance revoked LaGrange’s license and his entity license, operating as LaGrange and Associates Inc, and Empire-Valley Insurance Services, in May 2016 after proving that he had overcharged an elderly consumer by collecting earthquake coverage twice and misleading her about the billing. LaGrange even financed her premium with a separate finance company without her knowledge and attempted to re-apply for a new license six months later, but was denied. 

In 2019 following a consumer complaint, Department investigators learned that LaGrange was selling commercial liability policies under someone else’s insurance license number and collecting insurance premiums from consumers. LaGrange collected premium payments from two consumers in Lake Arrowhead, one of them being an elderly consumer, but failed to place the coverage and instead kept the money for himself. In order to cover up the theft, LaGrange issued the consumers certificates of insurance, which left them exposed to losses and in great financial risk.

If any consumers have done business with LaGrange or his business and are concerned about their insurance coverage, please contact the Department at 714-712-7600. All consumers can check the license status of their agent or contact the Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 if they suspect they are victims of insurance fraud. 

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case.
 

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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.

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