Boat Liability Adjuster Carmen Stoepker-GEICO

An insurance carrier received a new claim for a theft of a 19’ Nauticstar from a rural area in Mississippi.  Following typical review processes for a new claim such as this, the claim was referred to an insurance company associate who was an IAMI member.  Sensing something was off – the “spidey-senses” were definitely triggered, the claim was referred to the carriers Special Investigations Unit.   

It was there that things got interesting.  The insurance carrier located the vessel listed for sale at a dealership in Louisiana.  At that point, IAMI contacts within law enforcement were engaged, and began an investigation of the case. 

Law enforcement traced the path of the vessel from the hands of the insurance carriers customer to the individuals who arranged for the sale in Louisiana.  The sellers were Mississippi residents with boat documentation that was forged, and identities that were stolen.  Beyond that – just your typical Gulf Coast boater! 

Law enforcement investigators continued with interviews and investigation into all parties involved in the boat, the sale, and the dealership.  They found it interesting that the insurance carriers’ customer had numerous family members arrested for various criminal activity shortly before the reported theft of the vessel.  They dug deeper.  Further evidence was uncovered, including recordings of phone calls both to and from the incarcerated family members.  Those phone calls made it clear that they were attempting to fraudulently sell the suspect vessel.  The proceeds from the fraudulent sale were earmarked to “bond out” at least one of the incarcerated family members. 

All suspects were apprehended on charges unrelated to the vessel theft and the posted bond was then pulled.  Our law enforcement investigators did not stop there. 

Additional charges directly related to the stolen vessel were brought in front of a Jackson County, Mississippi Grand Jury in October of 2024.  These charges included Grand Larceny, Conspiracy to Commit Grand Larceny, and False Pretense.  The vessel was recovered, and the insurance carriers customer dropped the claim. 

Using IAMI contacts, insurance carrier personnel were able to lead our law enforcement investigators towards an arrest of a family of career criminals.  Without the diligent attention to detail (no doubt a consequence of IAMI training), insurance carrier personnel would never have passed the case to the appropriate authorities.  Without the brilliant hard work of the law enforcement investigators (also no doubt the consequence of IAMI training), three individuals would have gotten away with crimes against the maritime community.  This is truly a textbook story of public and private working together for common good – just what the IAMI Mission is all about.