Anonymous
Source: California Department of Insurance
California Department of Insurance detectives today arrested insurance agent Mark Lynch, 40, on 13 felony counts of grand theft, embezzlement, and money laundering after allegedly collecting over $72,425 in insurance premium payments from five clients and leaving them uninsured including one client who was left uninsured during the Montecito mudslides in January 2018.
While that client did not suffer damage in the devastating slides that killed 20 people, the agent allegedly pocketed premium payments from five clients and used those funds for his personal benefit. Three clients were Santa Barbara homeowners and two clients were small business owners left uninsured against potential liability claims.
The Department of Insurance launched an investigation after receiving complaints from Lynch’s clients. The alleged misappropriation of premium payments took place between January 2016 and January 2017.
“Leaving homeowners without insurance during the Montecito Mudslides could have been devastating for these families and businesses,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “The arrest of this agent should be a warning to anyone who puts consumers at risk to seek personal benefit. The Department of Insurance will continue to use every resource available to stop unscrupulous agents from preying on customers.”
The Department of Insurance has filed an accusation against Lynch and is seeking to revoke his insurance license.
Lynch’s was booked into Santa Barbara County jail and his bail has been set at $100,000. The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Click here for the full arrest photo.
seems like a long period of time to bring charges on a fairly straight forward issue
Why would you have insurance through a random dude? Even if he represented a company?
The headline made me think that a victim of the Debris Flow had no insurance. In fact, the uninsured client lives in the area and was not affected, in an uninsured capacity, by The Flow at all.
Yeah, the crimes stand on their own. No need to drag Montecito mudslides into it. Now go prosecute him!