Former Insurance Co. Employee Sentenced for Stealing from Carrier, Agents

Mark Camacho, 41, of Cedar Hill, Texas, a former employee of Americo Life Insurance Co., was sentenced in federal court for stealing more than $900,000 from the carrier and its agents’ commission accounts.

Chief U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater sentenced Camacho to 30 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy and ordered Camacho to pay $932,197.32 in restitution, according to U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas.

The U.S. attorney’s office reports that in March 2009, Camacho and several other individuals were indicted for conspiracy to exceed authorized access of a protected computer and substantive counts of exceeding authorized access of a protected computer. These charges stemmed from a fraud scheme carried out by Camacho beginning in mid January 2003 until February 2004.

According to documents filed with the court, Camacho, employed with Americo Life Insurance Co.’s Dallas branch at the time, recruited eight individuals to serve as recipients of deposits that Camacho unlawfully transferred from insurance agents’ commission accounts within Americo’s system. Camacho split the deposited funds with his co-conspirators.

His access to the agents’ commission accounts was not authorized by Americo. Camacho generated more than 200 electronic fund transfers in varying amounts, totaling approximately $932,197.

Six defendants in this case have previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and have been sentenced, including Jerry R. Castillo, 37, of Mansfield, Texas, sentenced by Judge Fitzwater to two years and $148,353.18 in restitution.

The five others include:

• Brian Harris, 32, of Lancaster, Texas, sentenced to 18 months in prison and $344,405 in restitution;
• Carlos A. Rangel, Jr., 35, of Dallas, Texas, sentenced to six months in prison, five months home confinement and $149,541 in restitution;
• Anthony Mendez, 34, of McKinney, Texas, sentenced to four months in prison, four months home confinement and $144,586 in restitution;
• Philip Hughes, 34, of Wylie, Texas, sentenced to four months in prison, four months home confinement and $30,572 in restitution; and
• John P. Mendez, 29, of Irving, Texas, sentenced to four months in prison, 90 days home confinement, and $22,244 in restitution.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service assisted in the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Miller prosecuted the case.

Source: Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas