Glenside man forges 332 life insurance polices for funerals to swindle $600K

Dennis Wright, 42, of Glenside, was charged with felony theft by deception, identity theft, insurance fraud, and related offenses, in connection to fabricating 332 life insurance policies to earn more than $600,000 in commissions, according to police.

According to the criminal complaint, Wright worked for National Guardian Life Insurance (NGL) to sell whole life insurance policies to fund prearranged funeral plans. 

Wright was arraigned and bail was set at $100,000.

According to the Office of Attorney General investigation, between June 2020 and February 2022, Wright created hundreds of fraudulent life insurance policies by forging personal information like home addresses, email addresses, and signatures, without those individuals’ knowledge or consent, and kept the commissions for himself. 

He also created businesses to launder the commissions received from NGL in the amount of $603,000.

When contacted by police on April 4 about the fraudulent accounts and money owed back to NGL, Wright responded, “That was a misunderstanding. There were issues with some of the clients I submitted for, not with commissions,” according to police.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, police were tipped off by the following red flags: 

• Goods and services agreements that listed only lump sums and/or sales tax, with no actual goods or services provided.
• Policy owners owning multiple policies
• Policies failing to remain in full active status beyond 13 months
• Premium payments paid via credit cards rather than from the policy owner’s checking accounts
  
  

“This defendant betrayed clients and dishonored his position to line his own pockets when he was trusted to make insurance arrangements that would have provided peace of mind and financial security for Pennsylvanians,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “Insurance fraud is far from a victimless crime, and my office takes it very seriously.”

Each witness that police spoke to said they had no knowledge of who Wright was, and could not confirm any of the information listed on the policy that was created in their name.

The announcement was made by Attorney General Dave Sunday.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Jose Perez. 

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.