Fake South Florida insurance agent who sold phony policies arrested again, authorities say
www.mylocal10.com, Chris Gothner, August 1, 2024
MIAMI – A man arrested in January on accusations that he sold Miami car buyers phony insurance policies was arrested again on Wednesday on four additional felony counts after authorities said more victims came forward.
William Edwin Diehl Jr. is again accused of posing as an insurance agent and selling nonexistent insurance policies to unsuspecting customers. He’s the owner of a business called Gordos Auto Inc., registered to an address in Coral Gables.
In a deal with prosecutors, Diehl, 39, pleaded guilty in April to acting as an insurance agent without a license and was on probation at the time of his arrest Wednesday, according to court records.
It appears that Diehl, of northwest Miami-Dade, sold at least one victim a fraudulent policy in February — after his initial arrest.
An arrest warrant from an investigator with the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud details allegations from additional victims of Diehl and his alleged associate, Miguel Calunga.
Authorities said victims learned they didn’t have insurance when they received notices of cancellation for nonpayment or driver’s license suspensions.
In one case, Progressive Insurance sent a customer a notice stating, “You are not an eligible risk because the policy appears to have been improperly purchased and/or serviced through an unauthorized agent/broker.”
Financial transactions showed that Diehl sent various victims refunds after being confronted about not having insurance, the warrant states.
Diehl is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Thursday morning.