Former Insurance Company Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty

A former Gulf Shores, Alabama insurance company bookkeeper accused of bilking homeowners out of at least $120,000 has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of misappropriation of insurance premiums.

The Press-Register reported Monday’s plea bargain gives Benton Gray Harvey a chance for a lighter sentence by cooperating with federal law enforcement investigators.

But the nature of that cooperation is unclear and Chief U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade granted a prosecutor’s request to withhold details of Harvey’s criminal activity.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl Atchison would only say that an investigation is ongoing. Defense attorney Arthur Madden declined to comment.

Harvey was arrested on bank and wire fraud charges in July and accused of writing unauthorized checks related to bogus homeowners insurance policies from Starfish Insurance Agency.