Three people have been arrested in an insurance fraud case involving the theft of thousands of dollars in auto insurance premiums. Suspects Bella Jenkins, Torrance Blake and David Ball of Insurance Plus in Temple Terrace surrendered to authorities and were charged with insurance fraud and selling insurance without a license.

In August 2010, the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud, began an investigation into the agency. The division acted after receiving complaints that customers were given automobile insurance coverage quotes by phone only to have the price for the coverage increase greatly at the time of purchase. Many customers paid the additional money and left the agency believing that they had insurance coverage with either Kingsway Amigo Insurance Co. in Miami or Security National Insurance Co.

Customers later learned that they had no coverage, either by getting pulled over for a traffic violation and being told that their license was suspended for not having insurance, or by getting notices from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles advising of the lack of coverage. Further investigation determined that payments customers made were never sent to Kingsway Amigo or Security National.

The victims stated that Jenkins, the owner of the business and a licensed insurance agent, was not present when they went to the agency, and that Ball and Blake conducted insurance business with consumers without the required licenses.

All suspects were booked into Hillsborough County jail and released on bond. If convicted, they each face up to five years in prison per charge.

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Three Arrested for Auto Insurance Fraud in Tampa

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