Wednesday, June 29, 2011
(OKLAHOMA CITY) The Oklahoma Insurance Department has revoked the license of an insurance producer after the individual pleaded to a crime related to the breach of fiduciary trust.
“One of my primary responsibilities is to protect the consumers of Oklahoma from unscrupulous individuals,” Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak said. “This is a classic case where someone acted in a way that barred them from working in the insurance industry in Oklahoma but attempted to do so anyway.”
The department issued the emergency revocation of the license of Tiffany Lynn Lewis on June 16. Lewis was formerly a Texas lawyer and municipal judge in Dallas, Texas. She misapplied monies from a probate case in 2003 and was disbarred in 2005. Even after her disbarment, she remained a municipal judge until 2007 because the city charter lacked a mechanism to remove a judge.
Lewis pleaded guilty to misapplication of nearly $60,000 of fiduciary property in September 2009. She received 60 days in jail and 10 years probation. She failed to disclose the disbarment or that she was charged with a felony crime when she applied for an insurance agent’s license in Oklahoma and other states in 2008. She did not disclose that she was convicted of a crime of dishonesty or breach of fiduciary trust on her 2010 license renewal in Oklahoma.
The department revoked Lewis’ license on that basis, as well as other provisions of the Producer Licensing Act. Lewis has 30 days from the date the order was issued to request an administrative hearing. If Lewis fails to request a hearing, the order becomes final on the thirty-first day following issuance.
“The Insurance Department will not tolerate this type of behavior,” Doak said. “Once we became aware of the information concerning Ms Lewis, the department moved swiftly to investigate it and acted quickly to revoke her license. Those who have and would attempt to misuse the public’s trust will not be allowed the opportunity to take advantage of Oklahoma insurance consumers.”
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ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT
The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.
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For more information contact:
Shawn Ashley
(405) 521-4525
(405) 568-6004
e-mail: shawn.ashley@oid.ok.gov