Fairway Insurance Group LLC's chief financial officer Jeff Atwater announced the arrest of Jennifer Summerlott, a customer service representative, who allegedly bilked the Fort Lauderdale-based insurer for more than $1 million.
Fake insurance invoices
Summerlott, who served as the accounts payable and commercial lines manager for Fairway from 2006 to 2015, is accused of orchestrating an elaborate scheme to defraud her employer through the use of fake insurance invoices to reroute company funds for her personal financial benefit.
After account irregularities were noticed by other staff members in 2015, they notified the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, who turned the case over to the Department of Financial Services' Division of Investigative and Forensic Services (DIFS).
The subsequent investigation revealed that between 2010 and 2015, Summerlott allegedly created and submitted dozens of fake electronic invoices and refinanced 40 insurance policies that Fairway clients had previously paid in full. Summerlott diverted fake payments to a personal bank account and covered company losses with checks from third-party financing agencies.
4 first degree felonies
Summerlott was arrested Feb. 27, 2017, and transported to the Broward County Jail. She has been charged with four first-degree felonies, including organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, criminal use of personal ID and diverting insurance trust funds.
This case will be prosecuted by the Broward State Attorney's Office, 17th Judicial Circuit. If convicted, Summerlott faces up to 30 years in prison.
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