The owner of Howell Insurance has been sentenced for embezzling $375,000 from clients. | Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash
The owner of Howell Insurance has been sentenced for embezzling $375,000 from clients. | Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash
An agent of Howell Insurance has been sentenced for embezzling $375,000 from clients.
Alicia Holbrook-Bloink, 44, and her insurance agency, Holbrook Insurance Agency LLC, pleaded guilty to multiple felonies in December 2021. She was ordered to stand trial in Oct. 2020 after a three-day preliminary examination and will serve jail time, according to a press release from the Department of the Attorney General.
"We thank the Attorney General's Office for its partnership in prosecuting this case and bringing justice for individuals who were harmed by this crime," DIFS Director Anita Fox said, according to the release. "DIFS is committed to protecting Michigan consumers in the insurance and financial services industries."
Alicia’s guilty plea was to conduct a criminal enterprise, while the corporation pleaded guilty to conducting a criminal enterprise, embezzlement, identity theft and tax evasion, according to the release.
Between 2015 and 2018, Holbrook-Bloink used her agency to embezzle nearly $375,000 by taking money from clients who paid in full and then forging finance agreements with premium finance companies to ensure the client had the policy issued while Holbrook-Bloink used their money. These finance contracts were regularly not paid, and insurance policies would be canceled, often without the client knowing, according to the release.
"When the people we hire to protect our assets choose instead to pocket our money, there must be consequences," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, according to the release. "My office remains committed to ensuring Michiganders are not taken advantage of by bad actors. I will continue to work with the Department of Insurance and Financial Services to protect our residents from dishonest practices."
The release states that Nessel will serve one year in jail and three years probation. A June 10 hearing will go over restitution.
Consumers who have concerns about Michigan insurance agents or want to file a complaint can do so online by clicking here.
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