Mich. A.G. Nessel Charges Oakland County Insurance Salesman With Conducting Criminal Enterprise, Embezzling From Commercial Clients

LANSING, Michigan, June 6 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release:

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) Director Anita Fox have announced charges against Charles Walker of Southfield. Walker was charged in the 46th District Court of Oakland County and arraigned on one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, one count of Embezzlement by an Agent $20,000-$50,000, and two counts of Embezzlement by an Agent $1,000-$20,000.

The State alleges that, through his insurance agencies, Charles Walker & Associates (CWA) and the Walker Insurance Agency Group LLC (Walker Agency), Walker collected insurance premiums from commercial clients but failed to remit those premiums to the insurance carriers and failed to refund unearned premiums to clients after the clients canceled their policies.

"Companies pay premiums to protect their assets from unforeseen damages and theft," Nessel said. "When insurance agents fraudulently pocket the money paid to them, it hurts their customers and leaves them without critical insurance coverage. My office remains committed to ensuring that Michigan business owners are not taken advantage of by bad actors."

AG Nessel continued, "I am grateful for the work that Director Fox and her team of investigatorsat the Department of Insurance and Financial Services, as well as the special agents and attorneys in the Financial Crimes Division in my Department, put into investigating this matter."

DIFS revoked CWA's insurance producer agency license, as well as the insurance producer license of Charles Walker in July 2017. Once his licenses were revoked, Walker simply renamed and relicensed a new insurance agency, the Walker Agency, at the same Southfield address and continued selling insurance to commercial clients.

"Our Department works hard to protect Michiganders from fraud in the insurance and financial services industries, especially from professionals whose job it is to protect their customers' interests, and we thank the Attorney General's Office for its partnership in prosecuting this case," said Anita Fox, Director, Department of Insurance and Financial Services. "Michiganders who suspect fraud can report it online or by calling DIFS at 877-999-6442 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m."

Walker was arraigned on June 5th before Magistrate Melissa King in the 46th District Court of Oakland County and was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond. His probable cause conference is scheduled for June 14th at 1:30 p.m.

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Original text here: https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2023/06/05/ag-nessel-charges-oakland-county-insurance-salesman-with-conducting-criminal-enterprise