Former Lawrence County deputy indicted in alleged life insurance fraud scheme

Sep. 9—A former Lawrence County deputy was indicted in federal court this month on felony charges stemming from an alleged life insurance fraud scheme, according to court records.

Brandon Tory Hood and his wife, Heather Lynn Hood, are accused of submitting fraudulent life insurance applications using personal information Brandon Hood allegedly accessed through law enforcement databases while working as a Lawrence County deputy.

Both were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, court records show.

Lawrence County Chief Deputy Brian Covington said Friday that Brandon Hood had previously served as police chief in Leighton, in Colbert County, before joining the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office.

"He was a deputy with us when we were informed by (the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation) that they wanted to interview him about the alleged crimes," Covington said. "Following an interview and interrogation conducted by SBI at our office, he immediately resigned before termination. I don't know at what point the alleged criminal activity started in his law enforcement career."

According to a federal grand jury indictment filed in U.S. District Court, Brandon Hood and Heather Hood were licensed insurance agents who worked with different insurance carriers. Brandon Hood was also working as a Lawrence County sheriff's deputy during the alleged scheme.

The indictment alleges Brandon Hood obtained personal identifying information — including dates of birth and Social Security numbers — belonging to family members, friends and co-workers and used it to complete and electronically submit life insurance applications.

"Once a life insurance application was submitted to an insurer, along with the first month's premium payment, the originating insurance agent would receive a commission," the indictment said.

Commissions could amount to as much as 80% of the first nine months of premium payments for each policy, according to the indictment. The purported policy owners were unaware that life insurance applications had been submitted in their names until they received cancellation notices from insurers for nonpayment of premiums.

"Brandon Tory Hood and Heather Lynn Hood ... submitted life insurance policies having a face value exceeding $24,000,000," the indictment said.

The alleged scheme occurred from Aug. 1, 2022, through at least Sept. 30, 2023, in Lawrence County, according to the indictment.

— wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.

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