Former Burlington County Insurance Agent Ordered to Repay $57,000 after Pleading Guilty to Insurance Fraud and Theft of Premium Monies

TRENTON - Division of Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that a former Burlington County insurance agent has been ordered to repay more than $57,000 stolen from more than four dozen policy holders who had paid the agent for homeowners and automobile insurance.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Louis Polite, 52, Phila., PA, was ordered by Burlington County Superior Court Judge Patricia Richmond LeBon to repay $57,400 in insurance premium payments made by policy holders whose premium monies were stolen by the former agent. Additionally, Polite was ordered to pay $3,200 into the Personal Insurance Automobile Plan which underwrites automobile insurance for high risk drivers, serve five years probation, and forfeit all insurance licenses. Polite pleaded guilty on Jan. 27 to an accusation which charged theft by failure to make required disposition of property received.

In pleading guilty before Judge LeBon, Polite, owner of Polite Insurance Agency located on Rt. 130 in Burlington City, Burlington County, admitted that between Jan. 1, 2003 and Nov. 19, 2004, to accepting $57,400 in insurance premiums from customers who had purchased insurance through the agency. Polite admitted that he did not remit the insurance premium monies to the insurance companies, instead using the funds for personal expenses.

State Investigator Robert Stemmer and Deputy Attorney General Lewis J. Korngut were assigned to the investigation. DAG Korngut represented the Division of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor at the guilty plea hearing. The Burlington City Police Department assisted the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor in the investigation.