From the
Naples Daily News on 3/14/2015:
A former title insurance agent in
Estero accused of siphoning more than
$705,000 from her clients in 2010 faces theft and fraud charges.
Lana Kaye Dargai, of the 22000 block of
Forest View Drive, was arrested
March 7, accused of stealing escrow funds put aside for the purchase and sale of real estate in
Estero and
Bonita Springs in June and July of 2010, according to the
Florida Department of Financial Services.
The department's
Division of Agent and Agency Services and
Division of Insurance Fraud investigated the case. Dargai was doing business under the name
Global Title Co., which she owned.The investigation also found:
--Global Title used escrow money to purchase cashier's checks to pay its own monthly rent and its own property taxes.
--In one instance,
$9,000 in escrow money was moved into a bank account for Dargai's father.
--At least eight times, from
August 2009 through
June 2010, funds from the company's escrow account held with
Bank of Florida were transferred into Global Title's operating account, held with the same bank.
Dargai faces up to 15 years in prison for first degree grand theft and fraud charges, and her title agent license has been revoked. Dargai's case will be prosecuted by the
State Attorney's Office in
Fort Myers.
"These cases are thoroughly investigated, which takes time. Also, the
State Attorney's Office had a forensic accountant going over all the facts and figures," said
Ashley Carr, a spokeswoman for the
Department of Financial Services. Dargai, she said, turned in her Global Title agency license in 2011.
She made off with money from at least five clients.
Stewart Title Guaranty, the underwriter for the money, reported the fraud to the state.
"The clients weren't even aware of any issues as
Stewart Title covered the losses," Carr said. "The clients are not out any money. The victim is
Stewart Title."
Florida Community Bank was among the claimants that Stewart paid.
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