Bogus Windstorm Inspections for Some Texans

Owners of more than 400 homes and businesses in South Texas will be notified that their windstorm insurance reviews were done by a bogus inspector.

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association says coverage for the Corpus Christi properties is valid unless the Department of Insurance removes the certification.

A letter Tuesday from Police Chief Troy Riggs informs owners that windstorm inspections done before 2008 by Gary Garza, who falsely claimed to be an engineer, were fraudulent and to contact insurance officials. Riggs recently learned of the matter while investigating building permit fraud and realized property owners were not notified.

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports Garza in January pleaded guilty to a lesser offense after being charged with 10 counts of tampering with a governmental record. He received two years of probation.