Particularly, Seneca Birchmore, 45, of Cincinnati, admitted to committing aggravated identification theft, a federal crime punishable by a compulsory two-year jail sentence. Birchmore additionally fraudulently obtained two COVID Paycheck Safety Program loans.
In accordance with courtroom paperwork, Birchmore misplaced his license as an insurance coverage agent in 2019 as a result of he was writing unauthorized insurance coverage insurance policies in order that he may gather the commissions.
After dropping his license, Birchmore then stole the identities of two different insurance coverage brokers and used these identities to put in writing extra life insurance coverage insurance policies for patrons who didn’t need them. Birchmore had the commissions from dozens of native buyer victims deposited into his personal financial institution accounts.
Native legislation enforcement departments obtained complaints from victims that cash was being routinely withdrawn from their financial institution accounts for insurance coverage insurance policies they by no means ordered. Lots of the victims are senior residents, and most reside in Dayton, Englewood, Middletown and Cincinnati.
The commissions for Birchmore’s authentic fraudulent insurance coverage insurance policies underneath his personal title as an agent totaled greater than $8,000. The commissions for insurance policies created underneath the stolen identities of different brokers totaled greater than $93,000.
As a part of his plea, Birchmore has agreed to pay the next restitution:
- Americo Monetary Life and Annuity Insurance coverage Firm: $34,820.37
- Columbian Life Insurance coverage Firm: $16,604.01
- Transamerica Life Insurance coverage Firm: $4,671
- Mutual of Omaha: $2,104.65
- Nice Western Insurance coverage Firm: $16,303.17
- Aetna Well being and Life Insurance coverage Firm: $8,826.84
- American Normal Life Insurance coverage Firm: $158.82
- Assure Belief Life Insurance coverage Firm: $17,906.07
- U.S. Small Enterprise Administration: $41,665
In a separate scheme, Birchmore fraudulently obtained two COVID Paycheck Safety Program loans totaling greater than $40,000. Birchmore claimed on each mortgage purposes that he owned a enterprise in his title and said his gross revenue for 2019 was greater than $13 million. No such enterprise exists.
The defendant was charged federally and arrested in June 2022.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Lawyer for the Southern District of Ohio, was joined by the Social Safety Workplace of Inspector Normal, U.S. Secret Service, Ohio Division of Insurance coverage, Ohio Bureau of Motor Autos, U.S. Division of Labor Workplace of Inspector Normal, U.S. Marshals Service, Butler County Sheriff’s Workplace and Cincinnati Police Division in saying the responsible plea entered yesterday earlier than Senior U.S. District Decide Susan J. Dlott. Particular Assistant United States Lawyer Timothy Landry is representing the US on this case.
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