Palm Harbor Man Accused of Insurance Fraud

This post was reported and written by Patch Senior Field Reporter Linda Hersey.

A 50-year-old Palm Harbor man and four other Tampa Bay residents are accused of organizing an unlicensed insurance business to defraud customers.

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies arrested Joseph T. Jordan Friday, July 26 on felony charges of scheme to defraud and selling insurance without a license.

Tampa Business Journal reports that the state Division of Insurance Fraud accuses Preferred Staffing of America of "knowingly [misleading] consumers into believing that [the] company was a licensed professional employer organization and could provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage to client companies."

The others arrested are:

• John Acton Lewis of Clearwater

• Otto Biltres of Tampa

• Charles Brown of Tarpon Springs

• Kelly Bree Brown of Tarpon Springs

According to Jeff Atwater of the Florida Department of Financial Services, Lewis operated as an unlicensed insurance agent and referred clients to Preferred Staffing, run by Biltres. Biltres charged more than $130,000 for service and coverage that was never provided.

The five suspects were booked into Pinellas County Jail.

Jordan was released after posting $70,000 bond.

Anyone with information of suspected insurance fraud is asked to call 800-378 0445. Citizens who provide tips can remain anonymous. The Department of Financial Services to date has awarded almost $275,000 to more than 40 citizens as part of its Anti-Fraud Reward Program. The program rewards individuals up to $25,000 for information that directly leads to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme.

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