Insurance fraud victim comes forward

By Hubert Vigilla

Published on April 06, 2006

Seventy-seven-year-old Audrey Knutson did not join other victims who testified against Wingler last month. Though she says she followed the trial, Knutson did not realize that her situation was similar to that of the other insurance fraud victims.

Don Srstka, the attorney who represented the elderly victims, senses there are others who were similarly scammed by Wingler.

A majority of the insurance scams were committed while Wingler worked for Allianz Insurance. Wingler befriended and sold insurance premiums to elderly clients and kept all of the money himself. When the fraud victims asked about their annuities, Wingler made excuses about various personal problems and delays with receiving the necessary paperwork.

In court, Wingler faced six counts of insurance fraud and grand theft. On March 10, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison. On top of his prison sentence, he will have to refund some or all of the money he took.

In accordance with a South Dakota law that holds companies responsible when their agents scam customers, Allianz Insurance has paid the victims back more than $300,000. The insurance company currently has a pending civil suit against Wingler.

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