New Bedford Couple Charged with $700K Insurance Fraud Scheme

Brendan and Lisa Lawler, a couple from New Bedford, Massachusetts, have been charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for allegedly defrauding over 50 clients out of more than $700,000 through their insurance business, BL Insurance Brokerage, LLC. From March 2023 to March 2024, the Lawlers solicited and collected insurance payments from clients but instead of forwarding these payments to insurance providers, they pocketed the funds for personal use. To conceal their scheme and maintain the appearance of a functioning business, they used incoming client payments to cover outstanding balances for other clients and created false insurance documents indicating clients were insured. The Massachusetts Division of Insurance revoked the company's license in March 2024 after an investigation found grounds for revocation related to trustworthiness and failure to remit premiums. Both face potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison, supervised release, and fines, as stated by United States Attorney Leah Foley and confirmed in federal court proceedings. The investigation involved cooperation between the FBI, Massachusetts Division of Insurance, and the Insurance Fraud Bureau.