Released: August 17, 2007

An Oklahoma based corporation and two former Louisiana insurance agents were issued cease and desist orders today for allegedly soliciting insurance products to senior citizens without a license.

Shop Right Corporation based in Edmond, Oklahoma was issued an order to cease and desist from conducting insurance business in Louisiana, where it is not licensed. Former Louisiana insurance agents, Ronnie Benton Smith, age 53, and Lee Eldon Tracy, age 73, were also issued cease and desist orders for allegedly soliciting seniors in Louisiana to join Shop Right.

Shop Right, through its Web site, allegedly solicited individuals to join its "Senior Focus Group" by completing an application and submitting it to the company for approval. Upon approval of the individual's application, the website materials insinuate, the individual would then be eligible for an insurance product, among other things, that was offered by insurance companies. Further, Shop Right allegedly offered monetary incentives to individuals to procure applications from others to join the "Senior Focus Group." Allegedly Smith and Tracy enticed others to complete applications to join the "Senior Focus Group" to gain these monetary incentives.

Department records show that Smith held a Life & Health license from March 1990 through May 1996 and an Auto Club license from March 1994 through May 1995. Tracy held a Life & Health license from January 1983 through May 2002 and a Property & Casualty license from February 1983 through May 1985.

Commissioner Donelon urges consumers who feel uneasy about any insurance-related transaction to call the Department of Insurance Fraud Section at 225-342-4956 or 1-800-259-5300. If callers don't want their names used, they can request that their involvement be kept confidential.