A Virginia Beach, Va., insurance agent received probation after he allegedly tried to take advantage of senior citizens to boost his Medicare Advantage policy commissions.

Peter L. Holbert received a 12-month jail sentence in April on four forgery-related counts, but had that sentence suspended upon successful completion of probation, according to the Virginia State Police Insurance Fraud Unit.

Through a joint investigation between state police and the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance, Holbert was found to have signed insurance applications without the policyholder’s permission in an effort to increase commissions.

Four seniors had their Medicare Advantage policies switched to a different provider after the forged applications were submitted on their behalf, a practice also known as churning.

This story originally appeared in the June 2009 print edition of Insurance & Financial Advisor.