Lacombe insurers license suspended

A local insurance broker who was arrested by the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office in December 2007 for insurance fraud and nine counts of misappropriating funds has had her insurance license suspended by Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon.

In a statement released Friday, Donelon said that Jennifer M. Hudspeth, 37, of the Lacombe area was also fined $50,000 by the Louisiana Department of Insurance Fraud Section as well as having her license to sell insurance suspended. Hudspeth allegedly accepted $2,800 in insurance premium payments, and used the money for her personal use.

According to Donelon, Hudspeth had property and casualty and vehicle property damage licenses that were issued in August 2002. She also had accident, health and life insurance licenses that were issued in September 2002 and expired on April 30, 2008.

The Department of Insurance urges consumers who feel they may have been defrauded by any insurance-related transaction to call the Insurance Fraud Section at (225) 342-4956, or 1-800-259-5300.