LUTHERVILLE INSURANCE AGENT CHARGED WITH FELONY INSURANCE FRAUD AND THEFT

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announces the filing of felony insurance fraud and felony theft charges against Joseph J. Muehleison, 55, an insurance agent and former president of Commercial Lines Corporation which was located at 11804 Berans Road in Lutherville, Maryland. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General.

In a two-count criminal indictment filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Muehleison was charged with misappropriating approximately $410,000.00 in insurance premiums which had been tendered for policy renewal by Buck Distributing Company. The alleged misappropriation occurred in August of 2005.

If convicted, Muehleison could face up to fifteen years in prison on each felony count. No trial date has been set. A criminal indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and every individual is presumed innocent until the charges are proven by the State.