An Alabama insurance agent accused of embezzling and stealing from elderly victims fled to Cuba while he was under investigation, authorities said.
Bret Chappell, a 43-year-old licensed insurance agent who previously worked for Alfa, is now charged with 10 felony crimes.
Chappell, who is jailed in Blount County, was initially charged with two counts of first-degree insurance fraud, two counts of first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly and two counts of first-degree theft of property by deception, the state Insurance Department announced Tuesday.
On Wednesday, court records show, authorities served Chappell with two more warrants for first-degree insurance fraud.
The crimes led to $600,000 in losses for Chappell’s victims, the agency said.
Court records contend Chappell’s actions led to $66,360 taken from one couple, $201,957 taken from a third victim and $355,200 taken from a fourth victim.
Blount County Assistant District Attorney Scott Gilliland has filed a motion opposing bond for Chappell.
According to Gilliland’s motion, Chappell “absconded to the Republic of Cuba to avoid extradition.”
On Feb. 27, Chappell returned to his Blount County home to conduct some personal business. It was then that he was taken into custody.
“The defendant is a substantial flight risk in that the defendant has the means and experience necessary to return to the Republic of Cuba to avoid extradition for disposition of the charges pending against him,’’ the prosecutor wrote.
The Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Criminal Fraud Bureau, the Blount County District Attorney’s Office and Blount County Sheriff’s Department helped the Insurance Department with the investigation into Chappe
