A Mercer County insurance agent has been charged with knowingly submitting fraudulent life insurance applications and death benefit claims for applicants who did not meet U.S. residency requirements along with other policy conditions. The agent has been indicted on second-degree insurance fraud and third-degree theft by deception for issuing policies to three unqualified applicants who did not reside in the U.S. for more than twelve months, did not carry valid social security numbers, and did not sign the necessary applications under the proper circumstances. Using his ties to the African immigrant community, the agent received over $2,000 in commission for the policies, and pocketed the money.

He also convinced clients that life insurance for their family members outside of the country, in Liberia, was necessary, and procured the necessary information to create those policies. Later those three relatives allegedly passed away, leaving benefits of $85,000. Since the deaths of the insured individuals could not be confirmed, that claim money was not paid out. The charge is an accusation, and the agent is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A deputy attorney general presented the case to the grand jury.