Undercover Operation Nabs Agents

A former insurance agent whose license was revoked last year is now facing criminal charges after he allegedly offered to sell insurance to an undercover insurance fraud detective.

Mark Dwain Hannifin, owner of the Wellington-based Hannifin and Associates, had his agent's license revoked in 2006 after collecting premiums from customers, but failed to purchase the insurance while also selling unauthorized insurance products. In August, he was arrested on charges of soliciting insurance without a license and transacting insurance without a license. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison, plus fines and restitution.

A Department of Financial Services Fraud Investigator posing as a customer, met with Hannifin who allegedly asked the detective for the information necessary to complete an application for general liability insurance. He then advised the detective that he would contact him when the policy was ready. The following day, someone from Hannifin's office faxed a letter from Hannifin and a general liability insurance quote from Western World Insurance Company with a request that the detective sign the application and provide a check for the premium amount payable to Hannifin's firm. Hannifin was later arrested.

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is urging consumers to contact the Department of Financial Services if they purchased automobile insurance coverage from a Tampa woman who allegedly sold fraudulent insurance cards. Margaret Stillings was arrested on August 16 following an investigation by the department's Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. She was arrested on charges of providing false/fraudulent proof of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) motor vehicle insurance and transacting insurance without a license, both third-degree felonies. She was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, with bond set at $5,000, and if convicted on both charges, faces up to five years in prison on each count.

“Consumers should call the department's consumer helpline or log on to MyFloridaCFO.com to verify licensure before doing business with any insurance agent,” said CFO Sink, who oversees the department and DIF. “We've made it easy and quick to get the information you need to protect yourself and your family.”

Undercover agents entered Stillings' place of business and allegedly purchased a fraudulent auto insurance card from her for $100. Stillings has never been licensed to sell insurance in Florida, and therefore any person in possession of an insurance card sold by this individual should verify that they do in fact have proper insurance. For assistance in verifying coverage or verifying an agent's license, consumers should call the department's consumer helpline at 1-800-342-2762.