MUSKEGON, Mich. — A Muskegon insurance agent has been charged with fraud and embezzling more than $17,000 of his clients’ money, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Department of Insurance and Financial Services announced Tuesday.
Charles Booker, Jr., 63, was arraigned Wednesday in Muskegon County 60th District Court, according to a news release.
He faces three counts of embezzlement, one count of insurance fraud and using a computer to commit a crime.
Booker was given a $25,000 person recognizance bond.
“This case should serve as another reminder that DIFS and my office will continue to pursue justice on behalf of the many Michigan residents whose finances are not used as they intended or in accordance with the law,” Nessel said. “My office will continue to work alongside DIFS to enforce Michigan regulations and hold accountable those who attempt to violate our laws.”
Nessel’s office alleges that between October 2014 and June 2016, Booker collected nearly $17,200 in insurance premiums from 42 clients but failed to remit the premiums to Farmers Insurance.
Instead, Booker converted the money to his own use.
He also allegedly applied money he collected in premiums from three clients to the policies of several other clients whose premiums he did not remit to the insurer.
Booker is scheduled for a probable cause conference on Wednesday and a preliminary examination on Feb. 24.
