Macon insurance agents charged with defrauding Goodwill [The Macon Telegraph, Ga.]

Dec. 17--Two Macon insurance agents have been charged with insurance fraud after allegations that they pocketed more than $150,000 in premiums paid by Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia.

Broadus W. Marshall Jr., 57, and his son, 26-year-old Matthew P. Marshall, were arrested just after 8 a.m. at their homes.

While working at Marshall Insurance Agency, located at 2942 Vineville Ave., the Marshalls allegedly sold an auto insurance policy and a liability policy to Goodwill in August 2008, said John Oxendine, the state insurance commissioner.

Oxendine said the Marshalls sent Goodwill's premium payments to the insurer, Philadelphia Insurance Company, until December 2008. But in early 2009, the Marshalls stopped sending payments to the insurer and the policies were canceled, he said.

"They allegedly started pocketing the money," Oxendine said.

When the policies came up for renewal in August 2009, Goodwill contacted the insurer and found that the policy had been canceled earlier that year, he said.

The Marshalls then charged Goodwill for a bogus extension to the policies and issued fake insurance cards, Oxendine said.

With their suspicions, Goodwill officials contacted Oxendine's office in late October, and the office launched an investigation.

Oxendine urged anyone who has done business with Marshall Insurance Agency to contact their insurance companies directly.

"Make sure your insurance policy is paid up and current," he said.

If there are any problems, Georgia residents can call Oxendine's office at (800) 656-2298.

"If they did it to one person, they may have done it to others, Oxendine said.

Both Marshalls are charged with one count of insurance fraud and could face between two and 10 years in prison if convicted, he said.

Check back at Macon.com and read Friday's Telegraph for more information.

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Copyright (c) 2009, The Macon Telegraph, Ga.

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