Florida Woman Gets 13 Months in Fake Insurance Scheme

Katrenia Harris posed as a licensed insurance broker, leaving more than 500 Tampa Bay drivers without real coverage.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Financial Crime

Florida Woman Gets 13 Months in Fake Insurance Scheme

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Katrenia Harris, 55, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison for running a fake auto insurance scheme. She posed as a licensed insurance broker from February 2017 through August 2023, and U.S. District Judge William F. Jung imposed the sentence.

Why it matters

The scheme left more than 500 drivers in the Tampa Bay area without real auto insurance, and some are now stuck with unpaid claims from crashes they believed were covered. The case highlights the risk of buying coverage without verifying a broker's license.

Harris was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison and must forfeit $49,772.40 tied to the scheme, which ran from February 2017 through August 2023. Whether affected customers will recover their unpaid claims has not been addressed.

The players

Katrenia Harris

A 55-year-old Florida woman who posed as a licensed insurance broker in a fake auto insurance scheme.

William F. Jung

A U.S. District Judge who imposed the 13-month federal sentence on Harris.

The details

Harris submitted applications using fake email addresses and phone numbers she controlled, so insurer notices went to her. She forwarded proof of insurance to buyers but never paid the premiums, so the policies were canceled shortly after they began.

February 2017: Harris began posing as a licensed insurance broker.
August 2023: The scheme period ended.
November 6, 2026: Harris was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison.

Legal Context

Florida's Department of Financial Services license lookup lets consumers verify whether an insurance agent is actually licensed before buying a policy. Cases like Harris's show that fake brokers can operate for years when buyers do not check that record.

Drivers who bought coverage from unlicensed brokers may face unpaid claims after accidents. Checking a broker's license through the Florida Department of Financial Services before buying a policy can help avoid this situation.

The takeaway

Before buying auto insurance, confirm the broker holds a valid state license and that the insurer has issued your policy directly. Keep proof of coverage from the insurer, not only from the seller.