Former Insurance Company Service Rep Sentenced For Embezzlement

TOPEKA, KAN. -- A former insurance company service representative in Topeka was sentenced Monday to a year and a day in federal prison for embezzlement, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. In addition, she was ordered to pay $215,000 in restitution.

Erin Rebecca Thomas, 47, formerly of Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement. In her plea she admitted the crime took place while she worked for American Home Life Insurance Company.

In her position, she processed death claims, policy loans, beneficiary changes and so on. Between July 2010 to July 2012, she created 22 separate fraudulent transactions. In one instance, she processed the policy of a person who died in 2010. She created a fictitious change of beneficiary request naming herself as beneficiary and had the benefit check deposited in her personal account.

Grissom commended the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Assistant Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.