Alert senior tips officials to suspected scam

A Tampa-area senior who was a quick study got a hunch about an annuity scam, the office of state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced today.

The woman, whose name wasn't released by authorities, contacted officials, alleging that Randolph Kahl-Winter and Donald Roberts, both of New Port Richey, "had misrepresented an annuity she purchased."

The victim had learned to identify annuity fraud through a workshop sponsored by Sink's office called "Safeguard Our Seniors."

She helped investigators in the state's Division of Insurance Fraud arrest the men, the state CFO office said.

After contacting authorities, a second meeting was set up with the woman and Kahl-Winter and Roberts to purchase another annuity. After the men had her sign the paperwork, Division of Insurance Fraud investigators arrested them Wednesday, and they were booked at the Pinellas County jail, the state CFO office said.

Kahl-Winter was charged with making insurance transactions without a license and violation of probation. Roberts, who is currently a licensed insurance agent, was charged with aiding and abetting an unlicensed insurance agent.

In September, Kahl-Winter received a 10-year probation sentence after he pleaded guilty to grand theft and uttering a forged instrument. He also had to surrender his insurance license and repay $52,335 in commission on the case.

Kahl-Winter had obtained a $1.75 million life insurance policy from American National Insurance Co. for an 81-year-old Port Richey woman, but he inflated her net worth so he would receive a larger commission from the company. He also forged her signature on the application.

"This unscrupulous scammer met his match when he tried to prey on another senior just months after previously being convicted of grand theft," said Sink in a news release issued today. "This case is another disturbing example of why we need to create tougher penalties and better protections for Florida's seniors."