Hamm: Bismarck insurance agent facing multiple insurance fraud charges Posted on 7/3/2012
BISMARCK, N.D.-North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm today announced the arrest of Brent Kitzan, a Bismarck insurance agent who is charged with 14 counts of felony theft of property, eight counts of felony insurance fraud and five counts of felony fraudulent securities practices.
The Insurance Department and the North Dakota Securities Department conducted a joint investigation into Kitzan's practices after receiving multiple complaints. Investigators allege that, while working as a licensed insurance agent under the business name Kitzan & Associates, Kitzan perpetrated multiple schemes against several of his elderly insurance clients and allegedly stole a total of more than one million dollars.
"Following a lengthy investigation, we turned the case over to the Burleigh County State's Attorney's office and worked with them to file these charges," Hamm said.
Kitzan was arrested over the weekend on an unrelated charge. While in custody, Insurance Department investigators served Kitzan with the 27-count arrest warrant on insurance fraud and other insurance-related charges.
The Insurance Department issued a cease and desist order against Kitzan in December 2011.
The North Dakota Insurance Department employs two sworn peace officers dedicated to investigating and prosecuting claims of insurance fraud. In 2011, the Department received 120 reports of insurance fraud amounting to more than $1.45 million in suspicious claims.
For more information about this case or to report suspected fraud, contact the Insurance Department at 1-800-247-0560 or visit www.nd.gov/ndins.
