Released: May 24, 2005

Department of Insurance Fraud Unit investigators accompanied by the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office today served Laura Elizabeth Watkins (42) with a cease & desist order and summary suspension of her license for taking thousands of dollars in company funds from her employer, insurance producer Henry Powell, Jr.

Watkins is accused of taking at least $255,000 from the company operating account without the permission of her employer between 1999 and 2004. There is no evidence that any insurance premium payments were involved and no policyholders were harmed by Watkins' actions. Today’s c&d follows her initial arrest by the Ponchatoula Police Department in December 2004 and her subsequent guilty plea in April 2005 to 50 counts of felony theft. As a special condition of her probation, Watkins was required to pay restitution to the victim, Henry Powell, Jr.

Department of Insurance records show that Watkins held a life, health and accident insurance license from June 1999 until today’s action. Her last address on file with the Department of Insurance is 19242 Country Club Lane, Hammond; however she is believed to be residing at 14108 Kohnke Hill Road, Hammond, where she was served.

Wooley urges consumers who feel uneasy about any insurance-related transaction to call the Department of Insurance Fraud Unit at 225-342-4956. If callers don’t want their names used, they can request that their involvement be kept confidential.

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