Margarita D. Martin, owner and operator of Martin-Argote Insurance Group, Inc., in Medley, has been permanently barred from any involvement in the insurance industry, based on a final order from the Florida Department of Financial Services. She is the focus of an ongoing investigation into pocketing at least $500,000 in commercial auto premiums and failing to place coverage for dozens of truckers, causing them to unknowingly operate without insurance.

Martin sold commercial liability insurance and had customers throughout Florida. Between January 2006 and November 2008, some truckers lost their licenses and even their jobs after having to pay for accidents that occurred during the time they were supposedly insured under policies written by Martin's agency.

Martin sought to hide her actions by creating three “branch” offices using the names of insurance agents with whom she had no relationship: Reliable Insurance Underwriters, Inc., of Jacksonville; Specialized Insurance Solutions, Inc., of Virginia Gardens; and Atlas Permits & Insurance Services, Inc., in Medley.