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Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones Announces Arrest Of Life Agent For Financial Elder Abuse

News: 2012 Press Release

For Release: April 25, 2012
Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566
Email Inquiries: cdipress@insurance.ca.gov

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones Announces Arrest Of Life Agent For Financial Elder Abuse
Agent allegedly defrauded seniors, insurer embezzling premium funds in excess of $1,000,000

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today announced that Frank J. Conlon, 73, a Los Angeles area life agent has been arrested on two felony counts for violating Penal Code Section 368 (d), Elder Abuse, Penal Code Section 487 (a), Grand Theft, Penal Code Section 186.11 (a) (3), Fraud, and Penal Code Section 12022.6 (a) (3), Theft exceeding $1,000,000. If convicted, Conlon could face up to 5 years in state prison on each felony count and restitution in an amount at or exceeding approximately $1,000,000.

"Insurance agents who prey upon seniors for financial gain will be apprehended and punished," said Commissioner Jones. "My department's investigators and staff have been instrumental in investigating and rooting out these unscrupulous participants in the insurance business."

According to investigators, in September 2011, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) received complaints that alleged Life Insurance Agent Conlon had diverted premium funds from numerous clients. The investigation revealed that Conlon had in fact diverted funds without consent or knowledge of his clients. He hid the theft of funds by providing the victims with fraudulent documents purporting to be from an insurance company. The false documents were an effort to mislead the victims into believing their money had been sent to the insurance company.

When Conlon was confronted by the victims about the whereabouts of their money, he continued to misrepresent the whereabouts of their respective funds. Two of the victims were 82 years old and 86 years old, respectively, and the money represented a substantial portion of their retirement funds. The clients had entrusted the designated funds to Conlon to purchase life insurance products and annuities. Instead of carrying out their requests he stole these funds for personal use. The identified premium theft for the time period of September 2007 through September 2011 totaled $1,009,640.83.

Conlon was booked into the Los Angeles County Jail with bail set at $1,009,641. His arraignment is tentatively set for April, 26, 2012 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Investigation Division, Criminal Operations - Point of Sale [C.O.P.S.] Unit investigated this case. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Elder Abuse Unit is prosecuting the case. 

This case was investigated and prosecuted under the Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Program (LACPP). LACPP provides grant funds to counties for the prosecution of financial abuse in life insurance and annuity product transactions. Clients of Conlon who believe they may have been victimized should contact Supervising Investigator Robert Brockway at (714) 712-7600.

 



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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