Everything for the Money: Julia Shurdom, 67,, a Female Florida Agent, Arrested for Selling Fraudulent Policies with Suspended License

August 3, 2015

The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) announced the arrest of insurance agent Julia Shurdom, 67, for allegedly transacting insurance related business with a suspended insurance license, scheming to defraud, and uttering a forged document while working for Absolute Insurance Services in Orlando, Fla.

According to a statement by DFS, the Division of Insurance Fraud received a complaint in regards to Shurdom, after a client who purchased homeowners’ insurance in 2013 and 2014 discovered that her home had remained uninsured. DIF conducted an investigation surrounding the complaint and found, per her bank records, that Shurdom had collected two homeowners’ insurance premium payments and used the money for personal profit.

During the investigation, DIF conducted a license search for the accused agent and realized that the Department’s Division of Agent & Agency Services (A&A) had already begun investigating Shurdom for a series of unrelated events. A&A’s investigation had subsequently resulted in a suspension of Shurdom’s license to conduct insurance related business. 

A follow up audit by A&A, as well as the ongoing investigation by DIF, revealed that Shurdom continued to negotiate insurance policies without the proper licensing from the Department of Financial Services, and that the transactions conducted were fraudulent, according to DFS.

Shurdom was booked into Orange County Correctional Facility with a bond of $6,500 on charges which include scheme to defraud, uttering a forged instrument, and violation of a suspension order. This case will be prosecuted by the Office of Orange County State Attorney Jeffrey L. Ashton and if convicted, Shurdom could face up to 15 years in prison.

Source: Florida Department of Financial Services