Michigan Insurance Agent Charged with $375K Client Theft

A Howell, Michigan, insurance agent has been charged with embezzlement and conducting a criminal enterprise, among other felonies, according to state Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Alicia Holbrook-Bloink is accused of taking more than $375,000 of her clients’ money between 2015 and 2019. A pretrial date for Holbrook-Bloink, 44, and her company, Holbrook Insurance Agency LLC, is pending in the 44th Circuit Court in Livingston County.

Holbrook-Bloink is charged with:

• One count of conducting criminal enterprises, a 20-year felony;
• Two counts of embezzlement of $100,000 or more, a 20-year felony;
• One count of embezzlement by an agent or trustee of $20,000 or more but less than $50,000, a 10-year felony;
• Two counts of taxes—failure to file/false return/payment, a five-year felony; and
• Four counts of identity theft, a five-year felony.

The case was referred to Nessel’s office by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) after several of the victims filed complaints. It was investigated by DIFS and the special agents from the Department of Attorney General.

The AG’s office said Holbrook-Bloink allegedly would take money from clients who paid in full, and then forge finance agreements with the insurance underwriters to ensure the client had the policy issued while Holbrook-Bloink used their money.

These finance contracts were regularly not paid, and insurance would be canceled, often without the client knowing. Holbrook-Bloink ultimately could not continue this scheme, and allegedly stole clients’ money without even attempting to enter a finance agreement or have an insurance policy issued, according to the AG’s office.

Source: Michigan Department of Attorney General

Topics Agencies Fraud Michigan