NEW BEDFORD COUPLE CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING CLIENTS OF OVER $700,000 IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR INSURANCE BUSINESS

The following information was released by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts:

A married couple was arrested today for their alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud individuals seeking insurance coverage through their business, BL Insurance Brokerage, LLC.

Brendan Lawler, 58, and Lisa Lawler, 45, both of New Bedford, Mass., were charged with one count each of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both defendants will appear in federal court in Boston at 3:30 p.m. today.

According to the charging document, it is alleged that from March 2023 through March 2024, the Lawlers solicited and collected insurance payments from their clients, which should have been paid to the clients' insurance providers. Instead of paying the insurance companies what they were owed, the Lawlers allegedly pocketed their clients' payments and used the money for their own purposes. To conceal the theft of client funds and to keep their company BL Insurance afloat to perpetuate the scheme, the Lawlers allegedly used incoming client funds to pay outstanding balances due to other clients' insurers. It is alleged that the Lawlers also created and distributed to certain insurance documents to the clients that indicated that the clients were insured. In total, through this scheme, it is alleged that the Lawlers defrauded at least 50 individuals or insurance providers and stole more than $700,000.

The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the loss to the victim. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance and Insurance Fraud Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Cleary of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.