INSURANCE AGENT CHARGED WITH
INSURANCE FRAUD AND FELONY THEFT

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., announced today the filing of criminal insurance fraud charges against Kimberly Tellis, 33, of Lutherville, Maryland. In a 12-count criminal indictment filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Tellis was charged with making false and fraudulent statements and representations to Amerus Life Insurance Company in reference to several life insurance policies. Tellis was also charged with committing felony theft of the resulting commissions that she received.

The charges allege that between the dates of September 21, 1999 and November 30, 1999, Kimberly Tellis, an insurance agent, created and submitted 11 fictitious life insurance policies. She received approximately $14,600 in commissions for these fraudulent policies.

If convicted of felony insurance fraud or felony theft, Tellis could be sentenced to serve 15 years in prison. The indictment follows a joint investigation conducted by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General. A criminal indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and every individual is presumed innocent until the charges are proven by the State. No trial date has been set.

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