More than 500 drivers in the Tampa Bay area spent years believing they had auto insurance when they actually didn’t. Katrenia Harris, 55, posed as a licensed insurance broker from February 2017 through August 2023 and was sentenced this week to 13 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung. She also must forfeit $49,772.40 tied to the scheme.
According to investigators with the Florida Department of Financial Services Bureau of Insurance Fraud and the FBI, Harris submitted applications using fake email addresses and phone numbers she controlled, which meant every notice from the insurance company went to her instead of the customer. She forwarded proof of insurance to buyers but never paid the premiums, so the policies were canceled shortly after they began. Customers kept driving without real coverage, and some are now stuck with unpaid claims from crashes they thought were covered.
The case is a reminder to confirm both the license and the policy itself. You can verify any Florida insurance agent or agency for free through the Florida Department of Financial Services license lookup, and a quick call to the insurer listed on your card will confirm whether your coverage is active. If you suspect insurance fraud, the state’s fraud hotline accepts reports online or by phone. Have you checked your policy’s status recently?
