DA: Garden City Insurance Agent Stole $250G from Clients

A Garden City insurance agent was arrested Wednesday for inflating premiums and pocketing extra money, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

John Sexton, 61, was charged with two counts of second-degree grand larceny, three counts of first-degree falsifying business records, and first-degree scheme to defraud, the DA said.

If convicted, Sexton could face between five and 15 years behind bars, officials said.

“Stealing from clients should never be part of anyone’s business plan,” Acting Acting DA Madeline Singas said. “Regardless of whether the victim is a small business, or a large corporation, those who abuse the trust placed in them to steal will be held accountable by my office for their crimes.”

Between January 2010 and July 2013, Sexton created invoices that inflated insurance premiums for Seafreeze, Ltd., a client of Ocean Marine Insurance Agency who was a client of Sexton’s, the DA said.

Sexton forwarded the bills to OMIA and pocketed a total of $58,000, officials said. He also pocketed more than $200,000 from the insurer between 2012 and 2014 by withholding payments meant for the seafood producer, the DA said.

Seafreeze’s policy was eventually canceled by the insurer because Sexton pocketed money he was supposed to forward, officials said.

A complaint was eventually made to the New York State Department of Financial Services, who forwarded the case to the Nassau DA, officials said.

Sexton is due back in court Friday.

Photo: John Sexton. Credit: NCDA