WOMAN BILKS NOKOMIS COUPLE OUT OF THOUSANDS

A NORTH PORT WOMAN WAS ARRESTED THURSDAY AFTER A NOKOMIS COUPLE SAID SHE TOOK THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN INSURANCE POLICY THAT DOES NOT EXIST.  DEPUTIES SAY ON APRIL 12^TH A 79 YEAR OLD MAN FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AFTER LEARNING HE DIDN’T HAVE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE COVERAGE.  HE SAID 54 YEAR OLD DEBRA WANLESS HAD CONVINCED HIM TO CANCEL HIS POLICY IN 2008 FOR WHAT SHE CLAIMED WAS A BETTER DEAL WITH A DIFFERENT COMPANY.  THE VICTIM PAID WANLESS OVER $4000 OVER TWO YEARS WITHOUT KNOWING THE NEW POLICY WAS A FRAUD.  THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES ISSUED AN EMERGENCY ORDER LAST THURSDAY SUSPENDING WANLESS’ LICENSE AFTER RECEIVING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT SHE COLLECTED INSURANCE PREMIUMS FROM RESIDENTS WITHOUT PROVIDING COVERAGE.  ONE PUBLISHED REPORT PUTS THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AT MORE THAN 200.  WANLESS WAS CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF GRAND THEFT OF A PERSON 65 OR OLDER.   SHE POSTED BOND AND WAS RELEASED.