Florida Insurance Agent Charged In ID Theft
Jan. 19--DUNNELLON -- A man who, authorities said, was able to open an Allstate Insurance Company branch by forging documents indicating that another man was going to give him a large sum of cash to start his own business, was arrested Thursday.
Kevin M. Day, 46, of Dunnellon, was interviewed by Dunnellon Police Department Officer E.J. Raines shortly before 9 a.m. and did not deny signing the other man's name. Day was charged with two counts of uttering a forged instrument and one count of criminal use of personal identification information.
Day was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he remained Thursday afternoon. Day's bail was set $6,000. His arrest report lists his occupation as insurance sales. He said no to an interview request from the Star-Banner.
According to DPD officials, Raines met last month with a woman who has her own Allstate branch in Dunnellon. She told the officer that Day, a former employee of hers, had tried to purchase her business but she declined to sell. She said when she discovered he had opened his own business at 20107 E. Pennsylvania Ave. in Dunnellon, she decided to investigate.
The woman told Raines that Day had forged documents stating that a client was going to give him $100,000 to start his own business. She provided Raines with copies of bank statements belonging to the victim and two letters signed in the victim's name, which stated he intended to give Day $100,000 for an insurance sales venture.
The woman also gave the officer documents signed with the name of Kevin Day, which stated that Day had $100,000 in liquid assets as required by Allstate to open a business.
The woman said the victim assured her he did not sign the documents and had never agreed to help Day open a business.
The officer met with the victim in Lecanto. The man said he was not aware of the documents and did not sign them. The man, who is an Allstate customer, called Day in the presence of the officer.
According to Raines' report, Day kept changing the subject during the conversation and told the victim that he himself "absolutely could have been me, because I signed a lot of stuff with you also. OK?"
The victim signed his name several times for the officer who, when comparing the signatures to the ones on the documents, saw that they did not match, the report states.
On Jan. 5, the officer sent a subpoena to the Allstate corporate office for any documents submitted by Day that made reference to the victim.
On Wednesday, Raines received a response from the company that Day had submitted a letter that was allegedly signed by the victim and dated in March 2017, promising him $100,000. A second letter also was reportedly signed by the victim, promising $100,000 in June 2017.
Also received by the officer were several bank statements for the victim, from multiple banks, which showed account balances and transactions.
With all the documents, Raines said, he had enough information to arrest Day for using bank statements belonging to the victim without permission and using the victim's personal identification without consent. The officer noted in his report that Day also submitted forged fraudulent letters stating the victim would give him $100,000.
Police Chief Mike McQuaig said he was thankful for the arrest and is happy they were able "to stop the identity theft of our valuable citizens."
Police officials said Day had been operating from his office from Sept. 1 through Thursday.
Cathy Mayo, Field Corporate Relations Manager for the Allstate Insurance Company -- Florida Region in Largo, issued a statement Thursday afternoon that said, "We have been made aware of the allegations in this case. We will cooperate fully with law enforcement during their investigation. Our primary focus is on continuing to serve and protect our customers. Allstate customers with questions about their insurance policy can contact another local Allstate agent or call 1-800-ALLSTATE 24-hours a day, seven days a week."
At the office at 20107 E. Pennsylvania Ave. late Thursday afternoon, two male employees said they could not speak and referred all questions to the corporate office.
Lisa Sheffield, who said she owns the building where the office is located, said that Day moved in on Dec. 1. She described Day as being "very personable, nice and polite," and said he had fulfilled the obligations to rent the space.
She said she was surprised by Day's arrest and was sorry to hear about the "unfortunate" incident and that her feelings were with him and his family.
Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118, [email protected] or @almillerosb.
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