Title Insurance Agent Charged With Writing Bogus Policies After Being Fired

In Central Florida, The Tampa Tribune reports:

• An insurance saleswoman was arrested [last week] on charges she stole roughly $38,000 by writing bogus title insurance policies. Sharon H. Jhagroo, 41, used to work for Old Republic National Title Insurance, but that relationship was severed as of March 31, 2007, said Lt. John Womer of the state Department of Financial Services' insurance fraud division. Jhagroo, however, continued to write title insurance policies, from April, 2007 through January, as if she were still working for Old Republic, according to investigator Steven E. Firestone. She wrote 48 bogus policies and collected $38,104.29 in premiums, which she kept for herself, documents show.The St. Petersburg woman was charged with grand theft and selling insurance without a license. The latter charge is applicable when an insurance agent is no longer working for a company, Womer said.

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• According to arrest affidavits, Jhagroo left real estate buyers and lien holders in a lurch after selling them the bogus policies. Womer said Old Republic made the victims whole once the fraud was discovered, and will assume the loss.

For more, see Insurance Agent In St. Pete Charged With Grand Theft.