Former First AME Church official pleads guilty to insurance scam
A prayer service is held at First African Methodist Episcopal Church. Members were victims of a former church trustee’s insurance scheme.
A former trustee and spokeswoman for First AME Church in South Los Angeles pleaded guilty Thursday to running an insurance scheme that cheated seniors -- including members of the church -- out of more than $100,000.
Constance Gail Fortune, who was a licensed insurance agent, sold auto, life and homeowners policies to seniors between October 2010 and September 2012 but never purchased them. Instead, she used the premiums to cover her rent and other personal expenses, according to authorities.
At least four victims have been identified, a California Insurance Department spokeswoman said.
“Fortune’s alleged criminal enterprise is reprehensible,” California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said. She “violated her fiduciary responsibility when she used her position as a licensed agent and trusted member of the Los Angeles community to take advantage of seniors.”
Fortune, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of felony grand theft by embezzlement and one felony count of theft from an elder. She was sentenced to one year in county jail and five years of probation.
For more Los Angeles County court news, follow @sjceasar.
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