KEEPING THE ORCHESTRA AFLOAT PERFORMING ON FLOATING STAGE WITH HELP OF A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN
April 30, 2007Jessie Darcey
May 2, 2007A Terrebonne Parish insurance agent was arrested Thursday for insurance fraud, according to the state Department of Insurance.
Troy Darnell Augustine, 39, of Houma, was charged with insurance fraud and maintaining false public records.
State Fraud Unit Director Trent Beach said deputies with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Augustine at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. He was transported to the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Complex in Houma on 18 counts of insurance fraud; two counts of felony theft; one count of misdemeanor theft and one of filing and maintaining false public records.
According to Louisiana State Police Sgt. Rickie Guhman, Augustine held a valid property and casualty license from October 1992 until May 1995. He also held valid life, health and accidental license from May 1992 through September 2000, when his license was revoked via a cease and desist order barring him from engaging in the insurance business.
“The Department of Insurance received some complaints [about Augustine] from the public in the Houma area. The people thought they had valid policies when they didn’t,” Guhman said.
According to state police, Augustine allegedly obtained a new license in June 2006 by altering his name to “Troy Danell Augustine” and changing his Social Security number and date of birth.
“This allowed him to slip through the cracks and get licenses,” Guhman said. “During the course of the investigation, we found out Augustine was able to receive more than $12,000 in advance commission from the insurance companies from 18 life insurance applications he forged.”
No additional complaints have been filed against Augustine, Guhman said, but the investigation is ongoing.
In the meantime, the state Department of Insurance is urging anyone who did business with Augustine to direct questions to the Fraud Hotline at (225) 342-4956.
“If anyone has a problem with the fraud line they can call my office directly at (225) 342-1456 and my office will help them with what they need to get the matter cleaned up as quickly as possible,” Beach said.
