ATLANTA, Ga. -- Dennis Calvin Avera, 35, has been arrested on three counts of insurance fraud by Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens and McIntosh County Sheriff's Office.
According to a report, Avera was arrested on three counts of insurance fraud, related to his insurance business. An investigation by Hudgens’ Fraud Unit revealed that Avera was allegedly converting to his own personal use money given to him for automobile coverage from insurance clients.
Avera was arrested at his home, 1027 O’Cain Ave., which also serves as the office for his business, Sapelo Insurance Agency.
"I intend to continue aggressively investigating and acting on fraudulent insurance practices that place our citizens at risk,” Commissioner Hudgens said.
In addition to the criminal charges, an administrative order immediately revoking Avera’s agent's license has been signed by the Commissioner. Avera has ten days from receiving the order to request a hearing on the license revocation.
The order alleges Avera took insurance premium payment from three clients and failed to forward the money to the insurance company. The administrative and criminal investigations of this case continue.
"Since the premiums paid were not properly forwarded to the insurance companies issuing the policies, the effect was that none of these customers were insured,” Commissioner Hudgens said. “If there were accidents, it could create a hardship for any potential victims.”
Anyone who believes they may have purchased insurance from this agent and has questions about their policy should call Hudgens’ office at (800) 656-2298. Also, Insurance Department Fraud Investigators will be at the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, April 5 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. to assist clients of Avera with concerns.
OSHA has ordered Wells Fargo Bank N.A. to compensate and immediately reinstate a former bank manager who lost his job after reporting suspected fraudulent behavior.
The manager, who had previously received positive job performance appraisals, was abruptly dismissed from his position at a Wells Fargo branch in the Los Angeles area after he reported incidents of suspected bank, mail and wire fraud.
An OSHA investigation concluded that the former manager's whistleblower activity, which is protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, was a factor in his termination. In addition to reinstating the employee and clearing his personnel file, Wells Fargo has been ordered to fully compensate him for lost earnings during his time out of the banking industry.
See the news release for more information. OSHA enforces the whistleblower protection provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley and 21 other statutes protecting workers who report violations of laws in various industries.
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U.S. Department of Labor
April 3, 2017
OSHA orders Wells Fargo to reinstate whistleblower,
fully restore lost earnings in banking industry
SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered Wells Fargo Bank N.A. to compensate and immediately reinstate a former bank manager who lost his job after reporting suspected fraudulent behavior to superiors and a bank ethics hotline.
The manager, who had previously received positive job performance appraisals, was abruptly dismissed from his position at a Wells Fargo branch in the Los Angeles area after he reported separate incidents of suspected bank, mail and wire fraud by two bankers under his supervision. He was told he had 90 days to find a new position at Wells Fargo, and when he was unsuccessful, he was terminated. He has been unable to find work in banking since his termination in 2010.
An OSHA investigation concluded that the former manager's whistleblower activity, which is protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, was at least a contributing factor in his termination. OSHA does not release names of whistleblower complainants.
In addition to reinstating the employee and clearing his personnel file, Wells Fargo has been ordered to fully compensate him for lost earnings during his time out of the banking industry. Back pay, compensatory damages, and attorneys' fees were together calculated at about $5.4 million. Wells Fargo also must post a notice informing all employees of their whistleblower protections under Sarbanes-Oxley, widely known as "SOX."
Wells Fargo can appeal the order before the department's Office of Administrative Law Judges, but such action does not stay the preliminary reinstatement order.
OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of SOX and 21 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of airline, commercial motor vehicle, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health care reform, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime and securities laws. More information is available at www.whistleblowers.gov. For information about OSHA, visit http://www.osha.gov.
Media Contacts:
Jose A. Carnevali, 415-625-2631, carnevali.jose@dol.gov
Amanda Kraft, 202-693-4664, kraft.amanda.c@dol.gov
Release Number: 17-394-NAT
Objects and vehicles striking workers are the leading cause of roadside-related construction deaths.
As road construction projects ramp up this spring, the Federal Highway Administration is partnering with OSHA, the American Traffic Safety Services Association, and other groups to encourage safe driving in work zones. The campaign, called National Work Zone Awareness Week, is an annual event set for April 3-7 this year. Tragically, 700 people, including 130 workers, were killed in crashes at roadway worksites in 2015. Many states and localities across the country will hold events to bring attention to these hazards and encourage safe driving around work zones. A national kick-off event is planned for April 4, at 10:30 a.m., at the Maryland state Randolph Road/Georgia Avenue Interchange Project. In addition, the Georgia Struck-By Alliance, which includes OSHA, will hold stand-downs at highway construction locations throughout Georgia this week to train workers on the dangers of distracted drivers and flying debris. For more information on the Georgia events, see the news release
GILBERT, AZ - Gilbert police say they are investigating after a steel company employee was killed on the job on Monday morning.
Officials say a large steel beam fell on a worker at S&H Steel, located near Cooper and Guadalupe roads. The victim reportedly died from their injuries.
Police do not suspect any foul play in the worker’s death, however the industrial accident is still under investigation.The victim has not yet been publicly identified.
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Man dead after industrial accident in Gilbert Posted: Apr 03, 2017 5:23 PM EST Updated: Apr 03, 2017 5:23 PM EST
By Eric Zott
Authorities say a man died Monday morning after an industrial accident in Gilbert.
Fire officials said they were called to 620 W Commerce Avenue Monday around 7:40 A.M. in response to an accident at S & H Steel Company.
Paramedics treated a man who was then taken to a nearby trauma center.
Gilbert Police spokesman Darrell Kruger said the man has died. Krueger said their units are assisting in the investigation of the incident.
There are few details available at this time, said Krueger.
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Today, S+H Steel has more than 100 employees who process 100 tons of steel a week for large commercial projects, government contracts, and more.
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