Police seek former agent's clients

Authorities say a former insurance agent arrested on fraud charges Thursday might have stolen from numerous people in Augusta. Authorities are asking anyone who has had contact with the man to come forward.

• Photos

Special

Carl Barcus: Former insurance agent is accused of collecting premiums from his clients after he was fired.

Carl Barcus, 58, is accused of collecting insurance premiums from his clients long after he was fired from the Atlanta Financial Group Inc. in 2004 and pocketing the money, Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine said at the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

"This individual has alledgedly ripped off not only his friends and neighbors, but has preyed on some of the most vulnerable citizens here in Richmond County," Mr. Oxendine said.

Authorities suspect Mr. Barcus, who was arrested at his home in Augusta and charged with five felony counts of insurance fraud, kept payments on low-cost life insurance programs that generally provide for burial costs. Those purchasing these loans tend to be elderly and low-income residents, Mr. Oxendine said.

"These were low-dollar amounts, but percentage-wise for the people who were buying them, these were significant dollar amounts," Mr. Oxendine said.

Anyone in Richmond County who has had dealings with Mr. Barcus or Atlanta Financial Group Inc. is asked to call the insurance commission's fraud agency at (800) 656-2298 or the Richmond County Sheriff's Office at (706) 821-1080. Additional charges are pending against the suspect, Mr. Oxendine said.

Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.