Ex-Insurance Agent From Montana Charged With Fraud And Theft

Feb. 10—Former Helena insurance agent Mark Anthony Biegler has been charged with multiple felony counts of fraud and theft, according to a press release from the Office of the Montana State Auditor.

Biegler is charged with four felony counts of criminal insurance fraud and five felony counts of theft of insurance premiums. Each felony count carries a potential penalty of up to $50,000 in fines or up to 10 years in prison. A trial for Biegler is scheduled to begin in August in the Lewis and Clark County District Court.

The investigation into Biegler opened on Nov. 6, 2018 after authorities received a suspected insurance fraud report from Travelers Insurance company.

According to court documents, Biegler represented Montana Premier Insurance LLC at 1184 Daybreak in Helena prior to Dec. 19, 2019. That business was dissolved in December 2019 for failure to file an annual report, and on Feb. 5, 2020 Biegler formed Montana Premier Insurance and Consulting LLC at the same business address.

According to court documents, Biegler defrauded or stole from the Greenfield Irrigation District, Grizzly Steel Inc., Northside Welding & Fabrication Inc., T&S Back Country Services Inc., R&R Conner Inc. and the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

The alleged crimes date back to 2019, when Biegler allegedly presented Greenfield with an altered invoice from the Montana Association of Counties instructing an insurance premium payment to be paid to the defendant rather than directly to the insurer. Biegler is also accused of altering documents, falsely stating Greenfield had insurance coverage through MACo through 2020.

Biegler allegedly went on to use similar scams to defraud the other companies. Biegler allegedly defrauded or stole from Montana businesses in Fairfield, Whitehall, Helena, Kalispell and Conner.

The Commissioner of Securities and Insurance revoked Biegler's insurance agent license in September 2020.

The investigation of matters related to Biegler is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding Biegler, either as a witness or potential victim of fraud or theft, is asked to contact the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance at (406) 444-2040.

All charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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