EASTMAN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – An Eastman insurance agent charged with fraud and forgery turned herself into the Dodge County Sheriff’s office in connection with policies she sold in Middle Georgia.
Soon after, the principal agent, Sarah Amber Winans bonded out for $24,000.
According to a news release from the Georgia Department of Insurance, issued arrest warrants on Monday for 41-year-old Winans.
41NBC’s Taylor Terrell went to Eastman to speak with staff members at the ABC agency located off Morgan Creek Drive.
One unknown staff member said ‘no comment,’ and would not give her his name. The man later asked her to leave the premises.
Glenn Allen with the Georgia Department of Insurance says a group of investigators learned about this case in March when an ABC Insurance client, whose name has not been release yet, found out she did not have the insurance coverage Winans’ sold to her.
Winans is charged with seven counts of insurance fraud and three counts of forgery.
Allen says there could be more fraudulent insurance policies.
Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens says the state has been investigating Winans’ agency and business practices for several months. He adds she alleged defrauded at least $16,000 from her clients.
“Our investigation indicates that this agent was apparently preying on citizens in rural Georgia,” Hudgens said in the news release. “We believe Sarah Winans pocketed her clients’ premiums for homeowners and crop insurance coverage instead of forwarding the money to the insurance companies.”
If you have conducted business with Winans or have doubt about your coverage, you can call Hudgens’ Consumer Services Division at 800-656-2298.
Copyright 2014 WMGT-DT