Insurance agent accused of stealing directly from customers

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — An insurance agent is accused of stealing directly from his customers.

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin announced the arrest of David Mark Blanton, 50, of Leland Tuesday. He is charged with six counts of embezzlement by an insurance agent, two counts of forgery of an instrument and two counts of uttering a forged instrument.

N.C. Department of Insurance criminal investigators accuse Blanton of accepting premium payments from United Insurance Company customers without applying money toward their policies. They said they believe he did this October 2012 and November 2013.

During that time, investigators also said Blanton asked customers to write checks directly to him, and forged checks belonging to the company making them payable to himself. Investigators said he then deposited the money into his personal account two times between November 2011 and August 2012.

New Hanover County deputies served warrants Sept. 2 and Sept.3. Blanton was released on $125,000 bond.