A former licensed insurance agent was arrested for the second time in Florida last month after allegedly selling insurance without a license.
The Florida Department of Financial Services said Orestes Valentin Rodriguez is accused of transacting more than $38,000 in insurance business related to rental property renewal coverage despite a 2019 arrest for a $620,000 alleged fraud scheme.
Rodriguez’s insurance agent license was surrendered and revoked under a Department Settlement Stipulation for Consent Order in 2018. The order outlined Rodriguez was not to engage in any business transaction where a license or appointment is required pursuant to the Florida Insurance Code.
A previous investigation by fraud detectives resulted in the arrest of Rodriguez in March of 2019 for stealing over $620,000 in premiums. However, a bank representative discovered the press release of Rodriguez’s arrest and notified the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office (SAO) that Rodriguez transacted insurance business with the bank after his arrest. The SAO notified the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud (BIF) of the new allegation against Rodriguez.
A follow-up investigation revealed that after his license revocation and arrest, Rodriguez went back to the bank and collected insurance premium checks that totaled more than $38,700 related to rental property renewal coverage. Rodriguez provided a fraudulent certificate of insurance document as proof of renewal coverage.
On February 25, 2021, Rodriguez was arrested by BIF detectives and transported to Miami jail (TGK). Rodriguez is charged with 10 counts of transacting insurance without a license and one count of organized scheme to defraud. If convicted, he faces up to 55 years in prison.
DFS said it is asking for the public’s help in identifying any insurance transaction by Rodriguez and his business, Blue Guard Insurance Group Inc., after his revocation. If anyone has conducted business with Valentin Rodriguez after January 2019, please call the DFS Fraud Hotline at 1-800-378-0445.
Source: Florida Department of Financial Services
Topics Agencies
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