Two employees of Rutherford Insurance Agency in Fitzgerald, Georgia, have been arrested on multiple felony charges after allegedly taking client payments without forwarding them to insurance companies, leaving customers unknowingly uninsured.
Michelle “Allie” Joiner and Angela Krause were arrested on November 12, 2025, following an investigation by the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Fitzgerald Police, and the Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s Office.
According to jail records, the charges are as follows:
Michelle (Allie) Joiner
2 felony counts of insurance fraud
2 felony counts of exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult
Bond: $5,700
Angela Krause
6 felony counts of insurance fraud
Bond: $7,900
Both women have since bonded out of jail.
Residents told WALB News 10 that they paid monthly premiums to Rutherford Insurance Agency believing their vehicles and property were covered, only to discover during traffic stops or routine checks that their policies were nonexistent. Many customers, including elderly and disabled individuals, said they paid cash and never received proof of insurance.
Some former clients report losing hundreds of dollars, while others fear fines or higher future premiums due to gaps in coverage. WALB observed customers attempting to pay premiums at the agency after the arrests.
The Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, led by Commissioner John King, is now overseeing the investigation. Local deputies referred the case to the state agency after multiple complaints surfaced, and authorities warn there may be additional affected clients who are unaware of the fraud.
Anyone who believes they may have been impacted by Rutherford Insurance Agency is urged to contact the Insurance Commissioner’s fraud division.
