Attorney guilty of mail fraud for bogus insurance

Jan. 30--A federal jury found a Clarks Summit attorney guilty of seven counts of mail fraud for issuing illegitimate title insurance policies to homeowners.

Susan C. Kevra-Shiner, 46, was found guilty after a three-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Edwin M. Kosik in Scranton.

The jury returned the guilty verdict after approximately seven hours of deliberation, said U.S. Attorney Peter Smith. Federal mail fraud carries penalties ranging from probation to 20 years in prison per count.

In 2009, Ms. Kevra-Shiner owned and operated GK Abstract Co. Inc., an abstract and title insurance company in Avoca from where she handled real estate transactions. In 2003, she began issuing title insurance policies as an authorized agent of the Stewart Title Guaranty Co., based in Texas.

Although her agency agreement with Stewart was terminated on Sept. 23, 2008, she continued to issue title insurance policies that were invalid, defrauding at least 69 homeowners of at least $69,000 in title insurance premiums.

In 2013, the state board that disciplines lawyers suspended her law licence for four years. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel said in a decision that Ms. Kevra-Shiner "defrauded the banks and purchasers of real estate."

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys Peter Hobart and Evan Gotlob.

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