The Attorney General’s Office announced charges against Richard N. Martell, of Boston, for one count of Identity Theft and one count of Larceny over $1,200 related to an insurance fraud scheme he perpetrated while working as an insurance agent for American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac). Martell was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on April 8, 2024, pleading not guilty to all charges.
Between April 2018 and November 2019, Martell is alleged to have created numerous fake insurance policies to induce Aflac to pay him a sales commission on each policy sold. Martell established more than 270 insurance policies using the personally identifiable information of 64 individuals, many of whom are Massachusetts residents. These individuals did not consent to the use of their information, did not authorize Martell to issue insurance in their name, and in many instances were not aware that Martell had access to their information.
Additionally, Martell established Aflac payroll accounts for small businesses across the Commonwealth without the company owner’s knowledge by impersonating more than 30 business owners during account authorization phone calls. Upon discovering Martell’s fraudulent sales and activity, Aflac notified the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau, which upon further investigation, confirmed multiple victims’ lack of knowledge of the use of their personally identifiable information. As a result of the scheme, Martell collected approximately $45,000.00 in unearned sales commissions.
Martell was released on personal recognizance and ordered to have no contact direct or indirect with alleged victims and witnesses. He is next due in court on May 20, 2024, for a pre-trial conference.
This matter is being handled by Division Chief Mary H. Nguyen, Assistant Attorney General Emma Kratochvil, and Criminal Investigator Patrick Cooney all of the AG’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division, along with Victim Witness Advocate Ceara Tavares of the AG’s Victim Service Division and Investigators at the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau.
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